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UTEP Fall Enrollment Increases for 20th Consecutive Year

Last Updated on September 13, 2018 at 12:00 AM

Originally published September 13, 2018

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

For the 20th consecutive year, enrollment at The University of Texas at El Paso has increased. Fall enrollment figures for the 2018-19 academic year hit a new record of 25,151, compared with last year's all-time high of 25,078 students.

UTEP fall enrollment Fall 2018
UTEP's fall enrollment figures for the 2018-19 academic year hit a new record of 25,151, compared with last year's all-time high of 25,078 students. This is the 20th consecutive year with increased enrollment.

“While it’s a smaller increase than in previous years, we are always excited to see enrollment go up,” said Gary Edens, Ed.D., vice president for student affairs. “The University had a record number of close to 5,000 students graduate during the 2017-18 academic year, and when that many students earn degrees, we know that it takes time to replenish.” 

To date, UTEP has awarded more than 4,830 degrees for the 2017-18 academic year, a nearly 7 percent increase compared with 2016-17.

Edens added that when the economy is doing well and unemployment is low, students tend to work instead of going to school.

“In the enrollment world, professionals know that a strong economy and low unemployment tends to mean that students delay their education so that they can work and earn money,” Edens said.

Despite these factors, UTEP continues to attract more new students each year and retain those who are already enrolled. The student retention rate, a measure of how many students return to the University from one term to another, is 82.9 percent from spring to fall 2018, the highest since the historical high from spring to fall 2010 (83.3 percent).

Edens said the academic quality and the opportunities available for UTEP students, from undergraduate research to student employment, community engagement, leadership opportunities and study abroad experiences, help draw students to the University. The hard work of the faculty and academic advisers to make sure students progress successfully toward their degrees help keep them enrolled.

“We remain committed to providing the talented students of our region with an affordable education and the academic experience of a national research university,” he said.