UTEP Ranked Second Most Affordable College in Texas by Research.com
Named fifth in Texas for quality of education
EL PASO, Texas (March 12, 2026) – The University of Texas at El Paso is the second most affordable college in the state of Texas, according to new 2026 rankings by Research.com.
The platform also ranked UTEP fifth best college in Texas in terms of overall quality of education, beating out Rice University, Texas Tech University, Texas Christian University and others.
“UTEP continues to be recognized for its great value,” said President Heather Wilson. “Increasingly, we are also being recognized for the excellence of the education we provide. UTEP is one of the best investments students and their families can make.”
The 2026 rankings by Research.com were compiled through an extensive analysis of university data points from multiple sources, including Peterson’s Data, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College ScoreCard. The rankings consider various degree types and regions, focusing on key factors such as overall quality, affordability, popularity and the time required to earn a degree.
“UTEP is committed to creating opportunities for all students,” said Amanda Vasquez, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management. “We recognize that the costs of college can create barriers for families, so UTEP offers robust financial aid programs designed to address our students’ financial needs.”
UTEP financial aid by the numbers:
- 72% of undergraduate students received grants or scholarships – not loans – in the last five years.
- In the 2025-26 school year, the average first-year student who qualified for grants and scholarships received $10,317, and the average out-of-pocket cost of tuition and fees, after aid, was around $735 per year for those students.
- So far, UTEP has disbursed some $162 million in grants and scholarships to undergraduate students in 2025-26.
Excellence by the numbers:
- UTEP’s six-year graduation rates are now at the Texas average, having increased by 24% over the past 21 years.
- UTEP is tied for fourth in Texas for Fulbright Scholarship recipients, behind only Baylor, UT Austin and Rice University.
- Forbes ranked UTEP among the top 15 colleges in the nation for launching careers.
The Research.com rankings, which aim to assist students in their college selection process, weighed a multitude of factors that include academic excellence and rigor, affordability, a wide range of degree offerings and return on investment.
Last Updated on March 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published March 12, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
