Monday, Sep 15, 2025 • Joe Carpenter : Contact

The University of Texas at Arlington set a new record this fall, enrolling more than 5,100 first-time-in-college students—the largest freshman class in its 130-year history and a 7.6% increase compared to fall 2024. UTA’s total enrollment is 42,710, an annual increase of 2.6%.

The record-breaking class underscores UT Arlington’s commitment to increasing access and offering a wide range of degrees that appeal to both traditional and non-traditional students while preparing them for the workforce needs of North Texas and beyond.

Five UTA colleges also experienced enrollment jumps: College of Nursing and Health Innovation (11.5%), College of Science (10.6%), College of Liberal Arts (6.6%), School of Social Work (5%) and College of Business (3.9%).

“A UTA degree has never been more valued or sought after by students from across Texas and beyond,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “Students want to be Mavericks, and employers want to hire them.”

Many students select UTA because of its commitment to optimizing student success and helping ensure graduates seamlessly transition into their careers and maximize the return on the investment of their degrees.

Among the top 5% of research institutions nationwide, UTA is one of 21 universities recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education’s new designations for expanding access to higher education and helping graduates earn competitive wages.

“We have been intentional in expanding and enhancing access through a holistic approach to student success,” said Tamara L. Brown, UTA provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “From strengthening our admissions and advising processes to increasing financial support, we are working across many fronts to help students along their path to graduation. We are encouraged to see these efforts reflected in our rising retention rates and are excited to build on this momentum.”

Improving and expanding access to a UTA education has been a top priority. Key among the University’s accessibility initiatives is UTA’s Blaze Forward program, part of the UT System’s Promise Plus initiative that fully covers tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying in-state residents. Blaze Forward was expanded to include eligible families who make less than $100,000 per year. Blaze Forward, combined with other grants and scholarships, will enable 60% of all full-time enrolled undergraduate students to have their tuition and mandatory fees fully covered.

“This record-setting freshman class reflects the trust that students and families are placing in UTA”, said Luisa Havens Gerardo, vice president for enrollment management. “Our commitment is to ensure every student starts strong and to build pathways that keep them on track to graduation and prepare them for life after college. From financial aid initiatives like Blaze Forward to advising, engagement, and career readiness, more students can see UTA as a place where their success is not only possible—it is inevitable.”

In recently released rankings, UTA topped Washington Monthly’s list as the best university in Dallas-Fort Worth for “your tuition and tax dollars.” According to Equifax data, 44% of UTA’s first-generation bachelor’s graduates purchased a home within five years of graduating, and their wages five years after graduating are 89% of their parents’ estimated total household wages—indicators of financial success, personal responsibility and long-term stability.

Among UTA’s initiatives aimed at enhancing career-readiness is an expanded microcredential program that provides students with free access to training for professional certification in high-tech skills. Nearly 3,000 UTA students participated in this program last year, and the College of Liberal Arts also launched a Global Career Accelerator aimed at expanding such opportunities.

With dozens of academic programs ranked in the top 100 nationally, UTA was recently included on the 2026 Forbes America’s Top Colleges List. The 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list recognized UTA as the most innovative university in Dallas-Fort Worth, and The Wall Street Journal ranked UTA as the No. 1 university in Dallas-Fort Worth.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 42,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success.