Record Persistence and New Students Drive UTEP Enrollment to All-Time High of 27,368
Surging demand for UTEP Online also contributes to new enrollment record
EL PASO, Texas (Sept. 14, 2026) – With more new students attending The University of Texas at El Paso than ever before and current students staying at higher rates, total enrollment has surpassed 27,000 for the first time in the University’s history, setting an all-time record for the second year in a row. Based on UTEP’s official census count, Fall 2026 enrollment stands at 27,368 – an increase of more than 4% over last fall’s 26,297, which had been the University’s previous high.
“Surpassing 27,000 students is a remarkable milestone, but what matters most is that record numbers of students are not just enrolling at UTEP, they are staying and finishing,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “That is a credit to our faculty and staff, who take seriously the job of meeting each student where they are, and making UTEP an excellent and affordable path to a better life.”
For the fifth consecutive year, UTEP has enrolled its largest-ever incoming freshman class. 4,695 first-time-in-college students began their studies this fall, a 4.3% increase over last year's record cohort of 4,501.
Even more significant to the overall total is persistence – the share of students who continue their studies from one year to the next. 76.6% of last year's first-time freshmen returned for their second year, surpassing the University’s projected persistence of 71%. Persistence among all continuing undergraduates reached 80.5%.
The persistence gains follow a multiyear effort to build support around students from the moment they apply through graduation, including expanded academic advising, growth of UTEP’s Paydirt Promise and other scholarship programs with the support of The University of Texas System Board of Regents.
A growing share of UTEP students are also earning their degrees entirely online. UTEP Online, the University's suite of fully online degree and certificate programs, enrolled 2,158 students this fall – a new record that surpasses the previous high of 2,019 set just last spring. Online enrollment is up 8.8% over Fall 2025, when 1,984 students were enrolled, and online students now account for roughly 44% of the University's total master's enrollment.
Designed for working professionals, military-connected students and others balancing school with careers and families, UTEP Online offers more than 40 fully online bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs and graduate certificates in fields including business administration, nursing, social work, education, public administration, systems engineering and construction management.
“We are proud of the investments we have made in the holistic support for students,” said Amanda Vasquez-Vicario, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management. “Strengthened advising and expanded financial support have made it easier for students to find a path that fits their lives – whether that is on campus or through UTEP Online.”
Growth was broad-based across the University's colleges. The Woody L. Hunt College of Business grew 11% to 4,376 students, while the College of Health Sciences posted a 10.1% increase to 2,348, reflecting continued demand for its undergraduate and graduate programs.
Last Updated on September 14, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published September 14, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
