The University of Texas – Pan American, or UTPA, also known as UT-Pan Am, is part of The University of Texas System. It is located in Edinburg, Texas (Hidalgo County). It was founded in 1927. It offers more than 50 bachelor degrees and over 45 master degrees in diverse areas of study. The campus is spread across an area of more than 280 acres.
UTPA competes in the NCAA Division and is one of five schools, in the University of Texas System, that compete in Division I. It won the NAIA national men's basketball championship in 1963 under Coach Sam Williams. The official mascot of the university is the Bronc and the sports teams are known as the Broncs.

The school is known for its programs in mathematics, nutrition and exercise therapy, and liberal arts.
UTPA is selective and does not offer open admission. Three quarters of students in 2007-2008 had SAT verbal scores of at least 400. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 420 and 540.
UTPA has a tenure system for senior faculty.
There are 17,435 students at the school (as of 2007-2008). UTPA has a large minority student population.
The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Independent Southwest Region.
UTPA is a relative bargain, with lower tuition and fees than most schools offering similar degrees.
More complete details are provided below.
The University Of Texas Pan American
1201 W University Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
General Phone: (956) 381-2011
http://www.utpa.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 832 | interdisciplinary studies, English, Spanish language, history, political science, sociology, general studies, social services, ... |
| Business and Management | 521 | business management, accounting, finance, marketing, international business, MIS |
| Education and Teaching | 291 | educational administration, school counseling, multilingual education, special ed, reading teaching, early childhood education, elementary school teaching, secondary teaching, ... |
| Science | 191 | biology, chemistry, physics |
| Nutrition and Exercise Therapy | 186 | health and physical education, rehabilitation, vocational counseling, occupational therapy, dietitian |
| Medical Support and Technology | 143 | audiology and speech pathology, physician assistant, clinical lab tech, health service and sciences |
| Security and Law Enforcement | 142 | criminal justice and administration |
| Engineering | 139 | mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, various engineering courses |
| Therapy and Counseling | 122 | psychology, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, experimental psychology, substance abuse counseling |
| Media | 117 | journalism, communication studies |
| Family and Social Work | 107 | social work, public administration |
| Nursing and Emergency Medicine | 85 | registered nursing, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist |
| Fine Arts | 65 | fine arts |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 38 | computer science, information science, computer and info science, computer engineering |
| Mathematics | 27 | mathematics |
| Drama and Performing Arts | 24 | drama, dance |
| Music | 21 | music |
| Religion and Philosophy | 6 | philosophy |
Number of programs and degrees for UTPA in 2008-2009:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 2,405 | 48 |
| Master's degree | 643 | 45 |
| Doctor's degree | 9 | 2 |
In 2007-2008, UTPA had a total enrollment of 17,435 students (15,381 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 45% |
| Women | 55% |
| Full-Time | 96% |
| Part-Time | 4% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 86% |
| Graduate | 14% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 6% |
| Black | 1% |
| Hispanic | 86% |
| Asian | 1% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| Unknown | 1% |
| (Foreign Students) | 5% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 3% |
| 18-19 | 25% |
| 20-21 | 21% |
| 22-24 | 19% |
| 25-29 | 15% |
| 30-34 | 8% |
| 35-39 | 5% |
| 40-49 | 4% |
| 50-64 | 1% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Texas | 96% |
| (International Students) | 3% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 68 % |
| Part-Time | 47 % |
UTPA offers campus housing for 988 of its 15,381 (full-time) students.
(Please refer to our profile of Edinburg, Texas for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Texas Colleges).
The school does not offer students a meal plan.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7,613 | 4,868 | 64% | 2,626 | 54% |
| Men | 3,380 | 2,106 | 62% | 1,183 | 56% |
| Women | 4,233 | 2,762 | 65% | 1,443 | 52% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 400 | 510 |
| SAT Math | 420 | 540 |
| SAT Writing | 410 | 520 |
| ACT Verbal | 15 | 20 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 21 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | required |
| Recommendations | not required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 41% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 100% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 4,304 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 11,048 |
| Room and board | $ 6,038 |
| Room charge | $ 3,000 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 1,994 |
| Books and supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Other expenses | $ 2,452 |
Financial Aid:
UTPA participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 359900)
UTPA has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 188 | 63 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 113 | 95 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 102 | 106 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 0 | * | 1 | * |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 0 | * | 2 | * |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 3 | $84,704 | 2 | * |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 1 | * | 0 | * |
| No academic rank | calendar year | 4 | $76,582 | 1 | * |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 8 | $85,076 | 6 | $79,975 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 83 | $84,206 | 24 | $80,293 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 110 | $69,439 | 38 | $67,441 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 108 | $60,876 | 96 | $54,805 |
| Lecturer | academic year | 83 | $44,751 | 89 | $45,876 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 8 | $72,225 | 8 | $61,049 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 392 | $65,036 | 255 | $56,166 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Independent Southwest Region |
| Baseball | Independent Southwest Region |
| Track | Independent Southwest Region |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 59 | 68 | 127 |
| Track | 11 | 24 | 35 |
| Basketball | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Baseball | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| All Other Sports | 13 | 24 | 37 |
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Finance, General
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Management Information Systems, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Information Science/Studies
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Dance, General
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Bilingual and Multilingual Education
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
Elementary Education and Teaching
Mathematics Teacher Education
Reading Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Special Education and Teaching, General
Teaching English as Second/Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
ENGINEERING
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Engineering, Other
Industrial Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Public Administration
Social Work
FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General
LIBERAL ARTS
American/United States Studies/Civilization
Anthropology
Creative Writing
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
General Studies
Hispanic-American,Puerto Rican & Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
History, General
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
MEDIA
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Journalism
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Physician Assistant
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
Health and Physical Education, General
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other
Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
SCIENCE
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Clinical Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Psychology, General
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets UTPA Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 5% | ![]() ![]() |
| Lowest tuition & fees (in-state) (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 6% | ![]() |
| Minority % of student body (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | ![]() |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in liberal arts (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 13% | ![]() |
| % of full-time faculty on tenure track (vs. all colleges) | Top 16% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of accepted students who choose to enroll (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 19% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in mathematics (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Offers weekend classes
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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