University of Texas Rio Grande Valley vs University of Texas at Arlington
Admission Difficulty: UTRGV accepts 87.7% of applicants compared to UTA's 80.8%, making UTRGV slightly more accessible. Both schools maintain relatively high acceptance rates for motivated students.
Cost and Value: UTRGV offers significantly better affordability with in-state tuition of $9,859 versus UTA's $11,728. The average net price at UTRGV ($6,500) is less than half of UTA's ($15,235). UTRGV graduates carry lower debt loads at $12,950 compared to UTA's $17,527.
Academic Strengths: UTA provides a better student-faculty ratio advantage is minimal, as UTRGV offers 19:1 versus UTA's 23:1. UTA shows stronger student persistence with a 56.5% six-year graduation rate compared to UTRGV's 49.3%. However, UTRGV maintains higher first-year retention at 78.9% versus UTA's 72.9%.
Campus Experience: Both universities field NCAA Division I athletic programs. UTA's larger enrollment (30,834) creates a bigger university atmosphere compared to UTRGV's 27,026 students. UTA's location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides more internship and cultural opportunities than UTRGV's position in the Rio Grande Valley.
Outcomes: UTA graduates earn significantly more with median salaries of $63,199 compared to UTRGV's $49,620, reflecting the stronger job market in the Dallas area.
Students prioritizing affordability and smaller class sizes should consider UTRGV, while those seeking higher earning potential and metropolitan opportunities would benefit more from UTA.
Admission Difficulty: UTRGV accepts 87.7% of applicants compared to UTA's 80.8%, making UTRGV slightly more accessible. Both schools maintain relatively high acceptance rates for motivated students.
Cost and Value: UTRGV offers significantly better affordability with in-state tuition of $9,859 versus UTA's $11,728. The average net price at UTRGV ($6,500) is less than half of UTA's ($15,235). UTRGV graduates carry lower debt loads at $12,950 compared to UTA's $17,527.
Academic Strengths: UTA provides a better student-faculty ratio advantage is minimal, as UTRGV offers 19:1 versus UTA's 23:1. UTA shows stronger student persistence with a 56.5% six-year graduation rate compared to UTRGV's 49.3%. However, UTRGV maintains higher first-year retention at 78.9% versus UTA's 72.9%.
Campus Experience: Both universities field NCAA Division I athletic programs. UTA's larger enrollment (30,834) creates a bigger university atmosphere compared to UTRGV's 27,026 students. UTA's location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides more internship and cultural opportunities than UTRGV's position in the Rio Grande Valley.
Outcomes: UTA graduates earn significantly more with median salaries of $63,199 compared to UTRGV's $49,620, reflecting the stronger job market in the Dallas area.
Students prioritizing affordability and smaller class sizes should consider UTRGV, while those seeking higher earning potential and metropolitan opportunities would benefit more from UTA.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | The University of Texas at Arlington | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 87.7% | 80.8% |
| SAT Average | 960 | 1,120 |
| Enrollment | 27,026 | 30,834 |
| In-State Tuition | $9,859 | $11,728 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $19,939 | $29,660 |
| Net Price | $6,500 | $15,235 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.3% | 56.5% |
| Retention Rate | 78.9% | 72.9% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $49,620 | $63,199 |
| Median Debt | $12,950 | $17,527 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | The University of Texas at Arlington | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $61,334 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $72,515 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $55,693 | Computer Engineering. | $71,225 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $52,107 | Computer Science. | $69,897 |
| Civil Engineering. | $50,439 | Industrial Engineering. | $67,202 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | $49,344 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $66,461 |