Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The University of Texas At El Paso #40 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The University of Texas At El Paso sits in the 92.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $14,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of Texas At El Paso #593 for return on investment in Artificial Intelligence among nonprofit four-year institutions, a program delivering median earnings four years after enrollment of $103,286. The University of Texas at El Paso's composite ranking reflects a broad-access public university that converts strong mobility and affordability outcomes into meaningful earnings gains for its graduates — a combination that places it well above most institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn about $14,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, and the institution's access mission — serving a predominantly first-generation and Pell-eligible student population in El Paso — makes those earnings gains especially consequential.
Azimuth ranks The University of Texas at El Paso #40 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 97.4 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 78.9% and a six-year graduation rate of 50.2%. Return on investment ranks #594, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,771. Graduates earn about $14,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 93.6 percentile; published cost of attendance is $19,836, and the middle-income net price is $10,120. Access sits in the 96.4 percentile, with 61.6% receiving Pell Grants and 40.6% first-generation.
The University of Texas At El Paso's published cost of attendance is $19,836, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,863 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $10,120, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $18,282. Azimuth ranks The University of Texas At El Paso #92 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. For a fuller picture of how sticker price and net price can diverge, see the net price illusion. The University of Texas At El Paso participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the university's public-institution tuition structure keeps costs lower than at many private alternatives. Need-based aid — including Pell Grants for qualifying students — covers a meaningful share of cost for lower-income families, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for students in the lowest income band. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and state grant programs in Texas provide additional support for eligible residents. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,916; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,771, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
The University of Texas at El Paso is a strong fit for students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who want a broadly accessible public university in TX with a program mix anchored in Business and applied fields — and who need an institution that delivers measurable post-graduation value without requiring a high upfront investment. Graduates earn about $14,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing The University of Texas At El Paso in the 92.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, and median earnings four years after enrollment are $58,771, placing the university in the 38.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The University of Texas At El Paso enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 61.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.6% are first-generation — and the institution names a dedicated First-Generation support program and mentorship program among its student-success infrastructure, per the university's student services page. Low-income graduates place in the 50.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, a meaningful signal given how broadly the Pell-eligible cohort represents the student body. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the university admits the large majority of applicants — 99.9% admission rate — so access is broad, but the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, meaning students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the The University Of Texas At El Paso hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Texas At El Paso's published cost of attendance is $19,836, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,863 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $10,120, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $18,282.
Azimuth ranks The University of Texas At El Paso #92 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
For a fuller picture of how sticker price and net price can diverge, see the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/). The University of Texas At El Paso participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the university's public-institution tuition structure keeps costs lower than at many private alternatives.
Need-based aid — including Pell Grants for qualifying students — covers a meaningful share of cost for lower-income families, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for students in the lowest income band. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and state grant programs in Texas provide additional support for eligible residents.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,916; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,771, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of The University of Texas at El Paso earn median 4-year earnings of $58,771, placing The University of Texas at El Paso in the 38.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The University of Texas at El Paso #594 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 376 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $89,077, ranked #111 nationally in its major. Biology, General reports 297 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $49,396, ranked #269 nationally in its major.
Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 283 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $47,681, ranked #156 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 282 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $42,190, ranked #290 nationally in its major.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
165 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
66 graduates
Metallurgical Engineering
22 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
376 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
199 graduates
The University of Texas At El Paso's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 15% of degree output — the largest concentration among the institution's 54 programs serving roughly 3,965 students annually. Engineering represents 11% of graduates and Education accounts for 5%, giving the university a business-and-applied-fields orientation consistent with the regional labor market along the U.S.–Mexico border.
The largest programs by cohort size are Nursing (376 graduates), Biology, General (297 graduates), Criminal Justice (283 graduates), and Psychology, General (282 graduates). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #44 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $103,286 from a cohort of 165. Azimuth ranks Nursing #73 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $89,077.
Mechanical Engineering and Accounting also deliver strong early-career pay, with median earnings of $88,393 and $57,389 respectively. Nursing combines a large cohort with solid earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Several of these programs feed directly into regional workforce demand. Engineering, nursing, and business graduates typically enter the labor market immediately, and El Paso's position as a binational economic hub creates steady demand in logistics, healthcare, and professional services.
Programs like Criminal Justice and Psychology, General are more likely to serve as pathways to graduate study, where four-year earnings undercount the long-term trajectory. For context on how these fields align with national supply and demand for college graduates, Azimuth framework maps program families to labor-market conditions.
Azimuth's program-ranking methodology details how individual programs are evaluated and ranked.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of North Texas Similar quality tier in Southwest (#1070 ranked) | TX | 72% | $57,010 | #1070 | Compare |
University Of Florida Similar quality tier (#46 ranked) | FL | 61% | $71,588 | #46 | Compare |
Texas State University Similar quality tier in Southwest (#44 ranked) | TX | 89% | $56,906 | #44 | Compare |
Georgia Institute Of Technology-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#43 ranked) | GA | 14% | $102,772 | #43 | Compare |
Stony Brook University Similar quality tier (#2097 ranked) | NY | 49% | $74,502 | #2097 | Compare |
