The University of Texas-Pan American College Portrait
The University of Texas-Pan American1201 West University Drive Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 665-2999
The University of Texas-Pan American
Prepare. Discover. Transform. That’s the overarching theme at The University of Texas-Pan American, where we welcome you to “prepare for your future, discover exciting possibilities and transform your life and that of others around you." At UT Pan American, located in the culturally rich Rio Grande Valley of Texas, you can add definition to your dreams and aspirations through our seven academic colleges and the many community involvement opportunities available to you. Whether you aspire to a career in the Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Sciences and Human Services, Science and Mathematics, or Social and Behavioral Sciences, you will find a field of study that will challenge and inspire you. And, in your free time, you can enjoy the many year-round recreational activities in this semi-tropical region, enjoy one of our NCAA Division I sports or take advantage of our beautiful Wellness and Recreational Sports Complex. To learn more, we invite you to visit us at www.utpa.edu.
Living in the Broncs Community
The University of Texas-Pan American is located in the Rio Grande Valley, a river delta of the Rio Grande at the southern tip of Texas. The campus is in Edinburg, Texas, population 77,100, the county seat of Hidalgo County (pop. 774,769), some 20 minutes from the U.S./Mexico border. Six miles to the southwest is McAllen, Texas, a city of 129,877, and an hour and a half away are the beaches of South Padre Island, Texas. The average temperature is 68 degrees in the winter and 90 degrees in the summer. South Texas is distinctly bicultural, and many people speak both English and Spanish. Some of the programs and services UT Pan American offers to assist you in making the most of your academic career include the Guerra Honors Program, study abroad, learning communities, fraternities and sororities and over 100 service and major-related organizations and many social, cultural and recreational events.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
More Information
| Total Students | 19,034 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 16,631 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 9,233 | 56% |
| Men | 7,398 | 44% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 15 | <1% |
| Asian | 128 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 93 | 1% |
| Hispanic | 15,039 | 90% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 7 | <1% |
| White | 622 | 4% |
| Two or More Races | 48 | <1% |
| International | 360 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 319 | 2% |
| Where do UTPA undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Texas | 97% |
| Other US States & Territories | 1% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| How old are UTPA undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 20% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 18 - 22 | |
| Math | 18 - 23 | 450 - 550 |
| English | 16 - 21 | |
| Critical Reading | 420 - 520 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 54% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 84% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 95% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $14,785.00
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend The University of Texas-Pan American varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 79% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $11,454.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 38% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $5,092.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UTPA Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 22 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 41% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 78% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 633 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 38% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 45% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 82% |
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Campus-based Housing
11% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
5% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The UTPA Police Department provides general law enforcement services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. Our professionally trained staff is guided by integrity, service, and excellence in partnership with our community. Police Officers and Public Safety Officers patrol the campus using fully equipped police cars, bicycles, T-3 electric chariots, and foot patrol. Emergency phones are provided throughout the campus for the public to report emergencies or request information and services. Walking escorts, vehicle unlocks, and jumpstarts are provided on campus by the Department. Crime prevention and awareness programming are also provided to the UTPA community.
The Department participates in the national Law Enforcement Explorers program to offer a worksite career education experience for students interested in pursuing a career in the various criminal justice professions. We are committed to working in partnership with the students, faculty, and staff to provide for a safer community.
Students, Faculty, and Staff are encouraged to subscribe to "Bronc Alerts" to receive information in the event of a campus safety emergency. These notices may be received via email, text, and voicemail messaging, in addition to any postings on the UTPA website, designated flat panel monitors, or disseminated through the local media.
http://www.utpa.edu/emergency/
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, inclusive
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, professional dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at UTPA
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 94% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 59% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 20% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 77% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 16% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 30% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 54% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 5% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 94% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 70% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 71% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 57% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 77% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 90% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 70% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 62% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 40% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 80% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 84% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 81% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at The University of Texas-Pan American in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,683 |
| Master's | 767 |
| Doctoral | 13 |
| Total | 3,463 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 17% |
| HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 13% |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 11% |
| BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES | 8% |
| PSYCHOLOGY | 7% |
| Links to degree programs at The University of Texas-Pan American |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 71% four-year success and progress rate means that 71% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,289 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 545 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 74%
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Student Learning at The University of Texas-Pan American
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The University of Texas-Pan American is a comprehensive, public co-educational institution moving toward becoming a learner-centered research university. Teaching and research are equally important to the achievement of this goal. UTPA uses multiple assessment tools to gauge the effectiveness of undergraduate programs. Student learning outcomes in the general education (core curriculum) are assessed through the use of the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). In addition, internally developed instruments are used to assess outcomes in the areas of writing, mathematics, visual and performing arts and social and behavioral sciences. Other measures of student success include assessment of student learning outcomes in the majors, academic program review, licensure and certification pass rates, retention and graduation rates, and accreditation by professional organizations.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2010 - 11 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 997
Senior Score: 1158
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 931
Senior Score: 940
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1000
Senior Score: 1111
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 931
Senior Score: 940