EL PASO, TX – The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has been included among the top 500 colleges in the United States in a list compiled by Forbes.
The ranking was released this week as part of the Forbes Top Colleges 2024 list.
Of the nearly 80 four-year, degree-granting institutions in Texas, only 15 made the Forbes 500 list, including UTEP, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and Texas A&M.
“UTEP offers a great education at an affordable price for families. This ranking is a testament to our commitment to excellence,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson.
Of the 500 schools, UTEP ranked first in Texas, and 15th nationally for graduating students with little or no debt.
Forbes also found that within 10 years of graduating, the median salary of a UTEP alumnus was $106,000.
The University noted that Forbes found that the average debt of a UTEP student was $4,735, significantly lower than the national average. According to the Education Data Initiative, college graduates owe an average of $28,244 a year after leaving school.
“UTEP wants every student to have an exceptional and affordable education. Our teams do everything possible to remove financial barriers for students interested in attending,” ” said Amanda Vasquez, vice president of enrollment management.
The 2024 list recognizes America’s 500 Best Colleges based on student success, return on investment and alumni influence.
The Forbes ranking system analyzes alumni salary, student debt, graduation and retention rates, return on investment, academic success, and graduate leadership and business success.