Top 10 reasons why UTSA represents the future of higher education

Tier One status. Record Hispanic student enrollment. A championship football team.

These are just a few of the reasons why The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is gaining attention as a model for the future of higher education in our nation. In a time when many educational institutions are plateauing or struggling, UTSA is experiencing a period of sustained growth and development, setting the stage for a promising future for all Texans.

Here are the top 10 reasons why UTSA represents the public research university of the future:

1. Recognized as Top Tier: In February 2022, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designated UTSA as a Tier One institution, a distinction shared by the top 4% of research universities in the nation.
2. Leading in Latino student success: In October 2020, UTSA earned the Seal of Excelencia. The prestigious seal is held by only 24 colleges and universities in the US and indicates national leadership in promoting the success of Latino students.
3. Bucking enrollment trends: Across the country, Latino undergraduate student enrollment dropped significantly between Fall 2019 and Fall 2021. As a Hispanic Serving Institution focused on becoming Hispanic thriving, UTSA is bucking the trend with an increase in students who identify as Hispanic/Latino from Fall 2020 to 2021. Currently, nearly 20,000 Roadrunners—or 57% of the student population—identify as Hispanic/Latino.
4. Expanding faculty cluster hiring: UTSA has hired exceptional scholars from around the country to do the research that changes our world for the better. Through our Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative, the university recruited “clusters” of accomplished and diverse faculty in key areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum information science, and brain health.
5. Committing to access: UTSA Bold Promise is a tuition-free program that aims to make college more accessible and affordable to graduating high school Texans from middle- and low-income families. As of Fall 2021, this program has covered $25.4M in tuition and fees with Bold Promise students seeing higher retention rates than their peers.
6. Growing research partnerships: UTSA is home to 33 research centers and institutes and can offer industry, government and university partners exceptional facilities for studies that deliver with flexibility and integrity.
7. Rising in athletics: UTSA’s rising athletics program has served as a rallying cry for the San Antonio community due in no small part to three football bowl game appearances and a conference championship in only 11 seasons. In 2021 UTSA announced it would move to the American Athletic Conference and also celebrated the opening of the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence.
8. Increasing faculty diversity: UTSA has made intentional, strategic efforts to recruit, hire and retain faculty from diverse backgrounds who reflect the demographic makeup of its student body. As a result, the university is a leader among Hispanic Serving, Tier One institutions with the second highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track faculty who identify as Hispanic or Latino.
9. Building new School of Data Science: As the first of its kind in the state of Texas, the school will further solidify San Antonio’s status as the largest information security hub outside of Washington, D.C. and help prepare students for jobs of tomorrow.
10. Standing above: UTSA is one of only 20 Top Tier universities in the nation also designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. We continue to set San Antonio – and Texas – apart.

UTSA’s success doesn’t stop here. In the years to come, the university will continue to grow and produce the talent, knowledge, and discoveries that will drive economic development and the creation of new opportunities. Partners and officials are invited to work with UTSA as it builds stronger communities and pursues a bold future for Texas.