UTA’s student success strategy earns national acclaim

(Press-News.org) The University of Texas at Arlington has been recognized nationally for its commitment to student success and economic mobility, being named a winner in the inaugural Postsecondary Success Recognition Program (PSRP), a U.S. Department of Education initiative. This program honors institutions that excel in enrolling underserved student populations, supporting successful student transfers and completions and preparing graduates for careers that promote economic mobility.

UTA was one of only three bachelor’s degree–granting institutions across the nation to receive this recognition, and the only one that also grants master’s and doctoral degrees.

“This is a proud day for UTA. Ensuring higher education access to Texas students is central to our mission, and we work every day to ensure Maverick students are earning valuable degrees that lead to gainful employment,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “We are distinct because we have the academic credentials of a top national research university while also remaining highly accessible to students from all backgrounds.”

As the second largest institution in the UT System, UTA is dedicated to driving innovation and fostering economic impact. This commitment has produced remarkable results: UTA graduates earn, on average, twice as much as high school graduates in Texas and boast the highest first-year median salaries among baccalaureate graduates in the UT System’s nine academic institutions.

With a student body of 41,000, including 30,000 undergraduates, over 50% of UTA students are from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition, 47.5% of undergraduates for the fall 2024 semester were Pell Grant recipients, with more than 49% of the new entering undergraduate class receiving the grant.

UTA is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and has earned the coveted Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education for its success in accelerating Latino student achievement. UTA is an inaugural member of the Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Research Institutions representing the nation’s top research and HSI universities, which is committed to increasing opportunities for those historically underserved by higher education.

“Our primary focus is the success of our students, including ensuring they are prepared to launch into productive careers and lives after graduating from UTA,” said Tamara L. Brown, UTA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “We offer resources such as personalized career counseling, employer partnerships and hands-on, work-based learning experiences that show demonstrated impacts on our students’ post-college earnings, economic mobility and home ownership.”

National rankings further reinforce UTA’s strengths: No. 1 university in North Texas overall and No. 4 for best salaries (The Wall Street Journal, 2025); No. 1 public university in Texas for veterans (Military Times, 2024); and No. 1 in North Texas and No. 36 in the nation for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025).

Starting next fall, more North Texas undergraduates will have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at UTA, regardless of financial circumstances. The University has expanded its Blaze Forward program, a need-based financial aid initiative that enables students facing economic challenges to pursue a bachelor’s degree without being burdened by tuition and mandatory fees. An increase in the family income threshold will allow eligible students with family incomes of $100,000 or less to attend tuition-free, further broadening access to higher education.

More than 10,500 new students enrolled at UTA in fall 2024. To accommodate this growth, UTA is constructing Maverick Hall, a new dormitory slated to open in fall 2025. The UT System Board of Regents also approved UTA West, a new campus in west Fort Worth that will eventually serve more than 10,000 students, bringing the academic excellence of a Carnegie R1 research institution with proven student access and success efforts to meet the educational and workforce demands for the rapidly growing populations of west Fort Worth and Parker County.

“UTA is an invaluable partner in our collective mission to enhance business opportunities, promote economic mobility and improve the overall well-being of our communities,” Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce President Steve Montgomery said. “This partnership underscores the University’s impact on the local economy and its role in fostering a skilled workforce.”

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.

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