By News and Internal Communications

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 28, 2024 – For the second consecutive year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has been recognized as the No. 1 university in Texas, according to the latest Washington Monthly college guide and rankings.

Recognized as a top-performing institution of higher education in the state among all institutions – private and public – UTRGV took the lead in the 2024 rankings. Texas A&M University came in second and Rice University, third.

“We have built something truly special at UTRGV – an affordable and high-quality university that is transforming the region,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said.

“Our record-breaking enrollment and retention this fall semester, combined with these top rankings, are a testament to the hard work and commitment of our students, families, faculty, staff and the tremendous support we receive from the Rio Grande Valley community,” he said.

UTRGV kicked off the Fall 2024 semester on Monday, Aug. 26, with its highest first-day enrollment ever, with more than 34,000 students and a record 6,962 incoming freshmen.

This is the fifth straight year the university has recorded a first-day enrollment milestone. 

According to Washington Monthly, instead of rewarding schools for their prestige, wealth and exclusivity, its rankings give points to universities that help non-wealthy students earn remunerative degrees, encourage students to vote and serve their country, and produce the scholars and scholarship that drive economic growth and human betterment. 

Other University of Texas System schools making the list include UT Arlington (4^th), UT San Antonio (6^th), UT Austin (7^th) and UT El Paso (9^th). 

Nationally, UTRGV climbed two spots to rank 58th among all private and public universities, and advanced one position to 30th among public institutions.  

These latest rankings place UTRGV in the company of some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Penn, Harvard and Princeton, underscoring the growing recognition of UTRGV's excellence on a national scale. 

WE’RE #1

In helping students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices, UTRGV ranked first among all Texas institutions in Washington Monthly’s 2024 Best Bang for the Buck rankings for the southern region of the United States. Overall, UTRGV finished second in the category among all southern regional institutions.

“Keeping college affordable is one of our top priorities at UTRGV,” Bailey said. “Our students shouldn’t have to mortgage their futures to transform their lives through education. We are dedicated to providing life-changing opportunities that remain within reach for families in our region.”

The university also took the top spot in the following categories:

Lowest Net Price of Attendance

• 1^st among all Texas universities
• 5^th among national public universities

Top Social Mobility for Students

• 1^st among all Texas universities
• 9^th among all national public universities

Top Performance of Pell Grant Students

• 1^st among all Texas universities
• 2^nd among national public universities

In academic offerings, Washington Monthly also ranked UTRGV first in offering the best master’s degrees in:

• Communication disorders.
• And social work.

To learn more about the 2024 Washington Monthly college guide and rankings, visit https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/.