The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has reported its highest enrollment in history, with 26,297 students registered for the Fall 2025 semester. This figure marks an increase of more than 1,200 students from last year’s total of 25,039 and surpasses the previous record set in Fall 2019.
According to UTEP officials, the rise in enrollment is due to both an increase in first-time-in-college students and strong student retention rates. The university noted that it has set a new record for freshman enrollment for the fourth consecutive year, enrolling 4,501 freshmen this fall—a nearly 15% rise compared to last year.
While population growth in West Texas remains slower than other regions of the state, university leaders attribute the increased enrollment to a local commitment to education as a means of improving quality of life.
“This milestone is about more than numbers. It’s a reflection of the trust students and families are placing in the value of a UTEP degree. It’s everyone’s job to meet each individual student where they are and open the path to graduation and opportunity,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “We are proud to be the University of choice for so many exceptional first-generation and local students, as well as students from outside of the region, who want to build their futures.”
Several colleges within UTEP contributed significantly to this growth. The College of Nursing saw an almost 12% increase in enrollment, reaching 2,761 students. The Woody L. Hunt College of Business experienced an 11.1% year-over-year increase with 3,944 enrolled this fall. The business college recently expanded its programs related to U.S.-Mexico trade following a major donation from the Hunt Family Foundation.
Amanda Vasquez-Vicario, Ph.D., Vice President for Enrollment Management at UTEP, pointed out that these results stem from efforts aimed at supporting student success throughout their academic journey. She stated: “With the support of the UT System Board of Regents, we have expanded our Promise Program. We’ve also expanded scholarship programs and strengthened student support services, including academic advising, to offer individualized experiences for students.”
UTEP describes itself as America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at Texas’ westernmost point near where three states and two countries meet along the Rio Grande, about 84% of its student body identifies as Hispanic and more than half are first-generation college attendees. The institution offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs as an open-access research university.
