The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a very young college — it was created in 2013 and welcomed its first class in fall 2015. UTRGV offers more than 100 programs at various levels, including bachelor's degrees in subjects like addiction studies and marine biology for nearly 27,000 undergraduates. The university is also home to the Smart Hospital, a 15,000-square-foot simulation center with an ICU, emergency room and birthing room.
Students here get some serious bang for their buck. The total cost of attendance for in-state students living on campus is about $25,000. Nearly all first-year students qualify for some type of grant or scholarship, bringing that price down to less than $10,000 on average.
The university is dedicated to helping students complete their education, and it offers supportive services like on-campus childcare facilities. Plus, through the UTRGV Tuition Advantage Program, students with a family income of $125,000 or less can qualify for grants that cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees.
Outside of the classroom, students can show off their school spirit by joining the co-ed cheer, dance and mascot teams. UTRGV has more than a dozen sports teams and holds its homecoming festivities in February. The school’s mascot is the Vaquero, a cowboy whose outfit was designed and chosen by students.
