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Former names | Texas Southmost College (1930–1995) Edinburg College (1932–1952) Pan American College (1952–1971) Pan American University (1971–1989) Pan American University at Brownsville (1988–1989) University of Texas Pan American (1989–2015) University of Texas Pan American at Brownsville (1989–1991) University of Texas at Brownsville (1991–2016)[1] |
|---|---|
| Motto | Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis (Latin) |
Motto in English | "The cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy"[2] |
| Type | Publicresearch university |
| Established | June 14, 2013 (as UTRGV) |
Parent institution | University of Texas System |
| Accreditation | SACS |
Academic affiliation | |
| Endowment | $103.771 million (2020)[3] |
| President | Guy Bailey |
| Provost | Luis H. Zayas |
Academic staff | 1,239 (Fall 2015)[4] |
Administrative staff | 1,338 (2015)[5] |
| Students | 35,812 (Fall 2025)[4] |
| Undergraduates | 29,326 (Fall 2024)[4] |
| Postgraduates | 4,555 (Fall 2024)[4] |
| Location | ,, United States 26°18′16″N98°10′27″W / 26.304551°N 98.174165°W /26.304551; -98.174165 |
| Campus | Midsize City, 665 acres (2.69 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Rider |
| Colors | Orange Gray[6] |
| Nickname | Vaqueros |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I –Southland (FCS, starting in 2025) |
| Mascot | Vaqueros |
| Website | www |
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is apublicresearch university with its main campus inEdinburg, Texas, and multiple other campuses throughout theRio Grande Valley region ofTexas. It is the southernmost member of theUniversity of Texas System. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was created by the Texas legislature in 2013 after the consolidation of theUniversity of Texas at Brownsville and theUniversity ofTexas–Pan American.[7]
In the fall of 2025, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley enrolled 35,812 students, making it the ninth-largest university in the state of Texas and the fourth largest (student enrollment) academic institution in the University of Texas system. In 2018, UTRGV was also one of the largest universities in the U.S. to have a majorityHispanic student population; 89.2%[8] of its students are Hispanic, virtually all of themMexican Americans.[9]
It wasclassified in 2020 among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[10]
On December 6, 2012, theUniversity of Texas System Board of Regents approved a proposal to merge theUniversity of Texas–Pan American and theUniversity of Texas at Brownsville into a new university.[11] In June 2013, thegovernor of TexasRick Perry signed legislation creating the university.[12] In December 2013, the UT System Board of Regents voted to name the university the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).[citation needed]
The board of regents namedGuy Bailey as the founding university president.[13] Bailey appointedHavidán Rodríguez as the founding provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and Janna Arney as deputy president.[14]
In November 2014, the UT System Board of Regents approved the "Vaqueros" as the athletic nickname for University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. They also approved the official colors of blue, green, and orange.[15] The university opened on August 31, 2015.[16]
The university has two main campuses: inBrownsville, Texas at the formerUniversity of Texas at Brownsville andEdinburg, Texas at the formerUniversity of Texas–Pan American. It has research and clinical locations inMcAllen,Harlingen,Rio Grande City, and onSouth Padre Island.[17]
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| U.S. News & World Report[18] | 213(tie) |
| Washington Monthly[19] | 58 |
| WSJ/College Pulse[20] | 256 |
| Global | |
| ARWU[21] | 801-900 |
| THE[22] | 1,201-1,500 |
| U.S. News & World Report[23] | 966(tie) |
UTRGV offers 86 bachelor's, 75 master's, and 15 doctoral programs.[24] For the academic year 2015–2016, 92.7% of enrolled students came from theCameron,Hidalgo,Starr, andWillacy counties. The ethnic enrollment is 89.2%Hispanic (Fall 2017).[8]
In 2017,Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine ranked UTRGV 3rd in the country in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students.[25]
In 2024,Washington Monthly ranked UTRGV 58th among 438 national universities in the U.S. based on UTRGV's contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.[26]
In 2017, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was ranked No. 6 (out of 56 Texas universities) for lowest student loan debt in the state of Texas.[27]
Eleven colleges and schools formed the academic foundation for UTRGV, including:[28]
| UTRGV college/school founding | |
|---|---|
| College/school | Year founded |
| College of Education and P-16 Integration | 2015 |
| College of Engineering and Computer Science | 2015 |
| College of Fine Arts | 2015 |
| College of Health Affairs | 2015 |
| College of Liberal Arts | 2015 |
| College of Medicine and Health Affairs | 2016 |
| College of Sciences | 2015 |
| Graduate College | 2015 |
| Honors College | 2015 |
| Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship[29] | 2015 |
| School of Medicine | 2015 |
| University College | 2015 |
UTRGV isaccredited by theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). UTRGV was placed on probation by SACS from December 2016 through December 2018, initially because of concerns surrounding the process of dissolution of the University of Texas at Brownsville, and later for review of a state audit report.[30][31]
The UTRGV School of Medicine received preliminary accreditation from theLiaison Committee on Medical Education in October 2016.[32] In May 2016, the School of Medicine received accreditation from theAccreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to offer a medical residency program in psychiatry.[33]
On May 21, 2019, theTexas House of Representatives voted to approve legislation to create a law school at UTRGV.[34]
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| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 94% | ||
| International student | 2% | ||
| White | 2% | ||
| Asian | 1% | ||
| Black | 1% | ||
| Unknown | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 63% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 37% | ||
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2024) |
The merged university inherited UTPA'sDivision I membership; most of the athletic facilities are located in Edinburg. They have membership with theSouthland Conference, having left theWestern Athletic Conference in 2024. Only the men's soccer and women's swimming programs still compete in the WAC.
On November 19, 2016, the UTRGV women's volleyball team defeated the Utah Valley women's volleyball team, making them the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Volleyball Champions of 2016.[36]
The choice of a new university nickname was met with some contention from members of the communities of the two merged schools.[37] UTPA supporters, the larger of the two merged schools, argued for keeping the UTPA nickname, Broncs, while UTB supporters wanted a nickname new to both merged schools. UTPA Alumnus Alex Del Barrio created a petition to "Say No To Vaqueros" that garnered over 11,000 signatures after the announcement was made.[38] Several local city councils also passed resolutions in support of one option or the other.[37] PresidentGuy Bailey recommended a new nickname,Vaqueros, to the University of Texas System Board of Regents on November 5, 2014.[39] The suggestion for Vaquero was inspired by the UTPA student Studio Art projects, where the Toro and Vaquero were the most popular projects.[40]
Bailey also recommended school's athletic colors be UT System orange, green (formerly the secondary color of UTPA), and blue (formerly the secondary color of UTB).[39]
The announcement to the decision generated a swift and mainly negative reaction from some UTPA supporters on social media. These supporters, displeased that the Broncs was being moved to the wayside, determined the name was culturally insensitive, racist, and sexist.[41][42] Nevertheless, the UT System Board of Regents approved the recommendation the following day,[43] making Vaqueros the fifth NCAA Division I nickname that is a Spanish language word after theCal State Northridge Matadors,UC Santa Barbara Gauchos,San Diego Toreros, andNew Mexico Lobos. Bailey considered the decision "final" following the approval by the board of regents.[44] About 500 students protested against the Vaquero mascot on the UTPA campus on 13 November 2014.[45] A petition calling for Bailey's immediate resignation garnered more than 700 signatures.[46] Articles of impeachment were filed against the Student Government President Alberto Adame and Vice President Carla "Fernanda" Pena by Jonathan Lee Salinas (Senator at Large '14–'15) partly for their roles in the mascot committee, though the impeachment process was ended due to insufficient evidence. Following the protests, the UT System issued a press release supporting the "Vaquero" decision.[47]
At the height of the controversy in November 2014, Texas legislatorTerry Canales suggested he was considering filing a bill requiring UTRGV to abandon the Vaquero nickname.[44] Canales submitted HB901[48] in January 2015.[49] If passed, the legislation would require UTRGV to hold a student election for the athletics nickname, with "Broncs" and "Ocelots" on the ballot.
The mascot design was revealed in February 2015.[50] The logo features an orange faced rider in green on a navy blue and green horse. The logo features an outline of Texas in the negative space between the legs of the horse.[51][52]
In June 2019 the new design for the Vaquero mascot was revealed. The new costumed version was voted on and created by UTRGV students.[53]
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