U.S. News: UTEP’s Computer Science, Nursing Programs Among the Best in the Nation
Magazine also names UTEP Top 100 in nation for social mobility
EL PASO, Texas (January 8, 2026) – U.S. News and World Report identified The University of Texas at El Paso undergraduate computer science and nursing programs among the best in the nation in its December Best College guide.
In that issue, the magazine also listed UTEP as a Top 100 college for social mobility among national universities.
“We are incredibly proud that U.S. News & World Report has recognized UTEP’s our computer science program as among the best in the nation,” said Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of the UTEP College of Engineering. “This recognition reflects the exceptional dedication of our faculty and staff, creativity and drive of our students, and the strong partnerships that support our mission. At UTEP, we deliver a rigorous, hands-on education that gives our students the skills to lead, innovate and thrive in today's dynamic workplace.”
UTEP’s Department of Computer Science offers a Bachelor’s and Minor in Computer Science with concentrations in secure cyber systems, software engineering and data analytics; it is one of the most popular majors at UTEP. The department also offers a newly launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence.
UTEP computer science students excel nationally, obtaining internships and jobs at Google, Microsoft and more. A team of undergraduates in the program recently placed eighth at a national cybersecurity competition, outranking more than 50 schools including The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M.
Like computer science, nursing is one of the most popular degree programs at UTEP, with enrollment recently surging by more than 12%.
“This ranking is a testament to our excellent nursing program. At UTEP, we prepare compassionate, culturally competent nurses who are ready to meet the complex health care needs of our communities,” said Leslie Robbins, Ph.D., dean of the College of Nursing. “Our faculty and staff have an unwavering commitment to nursing education and we have strong support from our clinical partners.”
UTEP’s NCLEX-RN examination pass rate is historically well above the national average of 86.6%; graduates take the exam to become licensed nurses after earning their degrees. Nursing students at UTEP also obtain hands-on training to practice real-world patient care with both actors and advanced, artificial intelligence-enhanced simulation manikins.
The U.S. News rankings of the programs are based on a national reputational survey of academics and peers in the programs. U.S. News measured social mobility as a university’s ability to successfully serve Pell Grant recipients — students from families with exceptional financial need; low-income students are less likely to graduate from college than their peers. The social mobility score is based on Pell Grant recipient graduation rates and comparative performance with other schools.
“We typically don’t look at the main U.S. News rankings because they are heavily weighted based how exclusive a university is. We would rather be judged on who we include, not who we exclude,” said Lucas Roebuck, UTEP’s vice president for marketing and communications. “That being said, these specific program rankings do not penalize UTEP for providing access to excellence, so we appreciate the shout out from U.S. News for our excellent nursing and computer science programs.”
Last Updated on January 08, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 08, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
