UTRGV hits enrollment milestone on first day of fall semester, preliminary numbers show

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Monday welcomed its highest first-day enrollment ever with over 34,000 students, according to preliminary numbers shared by the university.

After surpassing Texas A&M for the top spot in 2023, UTRGV defended its title as the best university in the state with preliminary numbers in the 2024 rankings, with Texas A&M, Rice, UT Arlington, and Sam Houston State rounding out the top five. 

“Coupled with our record-breaking first-day enrollment and retention figures, these milestones underscore our relentless pursuit of excellence and the bright future that lies ahead for our university,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey.

The latest rankings place UTRGV in the company of some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Penn, Harvard, and Princeton, underscoring the growing recognition of UTRGV's excellence on a national scale.

Another enrollment milestone includes the largest doctoral class in the university’s history, with 604 doctoral students joining the Vaquero community. This continues the trend of UTRGV’s first-day graduate student enrollment, which has surpassed 4,000 for a fifth consecutive year.

Magdalena Hinojosa, senior vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs, attributes this record-breaking enrollment to UTRGV’s rapidly growing reputation as the best-value university in Texas.

Hinojosa emphasized the expansion of academic programs and enhancement of student life opportunities. She touched on the recent approval of a new School of Optometry, the construction of a state-of-the-art residence and dining complex in Edinburg, and the highly anticipated additions of UTRGV Football, women's swimming and diving, and the marching band. These additions have generated significant enthusiasm both locally and statewide.