The number of students pursuing degrees at the University of Texas at El Paso is increasing, with fall 2026 enrollment breaking 27,000 – a new record for the university.
“This exceeds our expectations,” UTEP President Heather Wilson told El Paso Inc. “We’re very pleased that students are choosing to get a great education. But it’s also at a price that students can afford, and their families can afford.”
UTEP’s recently released official census shows a total fall 2026 enrollment of 27,368, up 4% from last year’s record-breaking figure. Wilson attributed the increase to several factors, including the university’s tuition freeze over the past several years and its focus on keeping students in school until their graduation.
“We track that very closely. And we predict that, based on grades and financial issues, and all kinds of other factors,” she said. “We are really working hard to make sure that our students stay in college and make it to get that valuable degree.”
UTEP’s full-time tuition costs for the 2026-27 academic year are estimated at $8,800, and are typically about 5% lower than the state average.
University figures show that more than 76% of last year’s first-time freshmen returned for a second year, beating the 71% return rate school officials had expected. Among all undergraduates, the return rate was more than 80%.
“That means we are beating the curve. That’s a heck of a lot of work. It’s advising, it’s faculty working with them, it’s getting them engaged on campus,” Wilson said.
A university news release announcing the latest enrollment figures also highlighted UTEP’s success in attracting new freshmen. For each of the past five years, the university has had record numbers of first-year students. In fall 2026, 4,695 enrolled, a 4.3% increase over last year’s record cohort of 4,501.
Wilson said UTEP’s enrollment is benefiting from more high school students throughout the state selecting the university. She also noted a jump in applications from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Rio Grande Valley.
“We work very closely with the school districts and with the high schools in the region to make sure that pathway is open for students,” she said. “We don’t lower the bar; we widen the path. And that’s a long tradition here at UTEP.”
University officials said the growth is broad-based across the university’s eight colleges and schools, which offer 169 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.
The Woody L. Hunt College of Business grew by more than 11% to 4,376 students, while the College of Health Sciences had a 10.1% increase to 2,348 students. The College of Engineering saw a 4.7% increase in undergraduate enrollment and a nearly 6% rise in its doctoral program. The College of Nursing also had an increase in both its undergraduate and master’s, at nearly 7% and 8%, respectively.
Wilson said recent immigration crackdowns have not led to a decrease in international students enrolling at UTEP.
“Interestingly, our international enrollment is up this year, and it was up last year, which is definitely contrary to the national trend,” she said.
University records show international enrollment increased from 1,496 students in 2025 to 1,561 in 2026.
The increase in out-of-town students is chipping away at UTEP’s long-held identity as a commuter campus. While that adds to the campus experience, it also brings other challenges.
“That does require housing, and we’ve had a waiting list for housing for the last four years, which is why we’re building the new dormitory,” said Wilson, referring to Miner Crossing, an upcoming five-story, 155,500-square-foot facility on the north side of the track at Kidd Field.
Slated to be completed by the fall 2028 semester, the apartments will provide hundreds of rooms and 500 beds.
Online classes are also emerging as one of UTEP’s more popular offerings. More than 2,100 students signed up for UTEP Online – a suite of more than 40 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and graduate certificates – setting another enrollment record.
UTEP Online enrollment increased 8.8% from fall 2025 and now accounts for nearly half of the university’s master’s enrollment, at 44%.
“We are proud of the investments we have made in the holistic support for students,” said Amanda Vasquez-Vicario, 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.”