UTEP Enrollment Surpasses 26,000 for First Time in History
Surge driven by record freshman class and growth in multiple colleges
EL PASO, Texas (Sept. 11, 2025) – The University of Texas at El Paso surpassed 26,000 students enrolled for the first time in its history. Based on UTEP’s official census count released today, Fall 2025 enrollment stands at 26,297 – up by more than 1,200 students compared to last year’s 25,039 and beating the previous high of 25,177 set in Fall 2019.
This record-breaking total reflects both strong overall growth and a major surge in first-time-in-college students as well as very strong persistence to graduation for all students. For the fourth consecutive year, UTEP has set a new record for freshman enrollment, with 4,501 – a nearly 15% increase over last year’s cohort.
While the population of Texas is not growing as rapidly in West Texas as it is in the eastern part of the state, the increase in enrollment reflects a community commitment to education as a pathway to a better life.
“This milestone is about more than numbers. It’s a reflection of the trust students and families are placing in the value of a UTEP degree. It’s everyone’s job to meet each individual student where they are and open the path to graduation and opportunity,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We are proud to be the University of choice for so many exceptional first-generation and local students, as well as students from outside of the region, who want to build their futures.”
A key driver of this growth is the rise in enrollment within several of UTEP’s colleges, particularly Nursing, Business, Engineering and Health Sciences.
The College of Nursing has seen a surge of just under 12% in enrollment this year, reaching 2,761 students. Meanwhile, with 3,944 students enrolled this fall, the Woody L. Hunt College of Business posted an 11.1% year-over-year increase, reflecting strong demand for its undergraduate and graduate programs. The college has recently added programs focused on U.S.-Mexico trade and commerce through a transformative gift by the Hunt Family Foundation, and the University will build on this.
As Amanda Vasquez-Vicario, Ph.D., Vice President for Enrollment Management, explained, UTEP's success aligns with ongoing efforts to support student success from application to graduation. From bolstering academic advising and financial aid support to investing in experiential learning, the University has created a comprehensive ecosystem designed to help students thrive.
“With the support of the UT System Board of Regents, we have expanded our Promise Program. We’ve also expanded scholarship programs and strengthened student support services, including academic advising, to offer individualized experiences for students,” said Vasquez-Vicario.
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on September 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published September 11, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
