UT-Pan American vs. UTEP

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, TX with The University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is larger than UTEP based on total student enrollment (33,881 students vs. 25,039 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, TX (Small City setting); The University of Texas at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 20:1; The University of Texas at El Paso 21:1.

UT-Pan American vs. UTEP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT-Pan American or UTEP? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley than UTEP ($5,282 vs. $9,305).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are 10.5% lower than at The University of Texas at El Paso ($9,728 vs. $10,864).
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UTEP (about $243 more per year; $9,987.00 vs. $9,744.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at UTEP than at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (about $5,675 more per year; $25,502.00 vs. $19,827.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley than at The University of Texas at El Paso (93% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students is 10.3% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at El Paso students ($11,663 vs. $10,571).

UT-Pan American vs. UTEP Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT-Pan American or UTEP? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UTEP and UT-Pan American.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (990) is 20 points higher than at UTEP (970).
• Incoming UTEP students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (19 vs. 18 at UT-Pan American).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 880/1090; The University of Texas at El Paso 860/1080.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 15/21; The University of Texas at El Paso 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT-Pan American - Test optional; UTEP - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UT-Pan American Jul 1, 2027; UTEP May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UTEP students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at UT-Pan American (3.16).
• UTEP has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than UT-Pan American (94.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at UT-Pan American vs. 33.5% at UTEP.

UT-Pan American vs. UTEP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT-Pan American and UTEP? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than The University of Texas at El Paso's (37%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at El Paso earn a median of about $300 more per year than UT-Pan American graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $41,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates have a $6,711 lower median loan debt than UTEP graduates ($10,539 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, UT-Pan American graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTEP graduates ($108 vs. $178).
• More UT-Pan American graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTEP students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.