The University of Texas at El Paso has escalated 15 spots in the Washington Monthly’s annual college rankings, UTEP is now ranked 76th.
From 2012 to 2015 UTEP was ranked number one in the social mobility category, and in 2016 the campus dropped to 73rd. This year, it ranked 42nd.
In 2015, UTEP was listed among the top 10 universities and dramatically dropped to the 73rd position a year after Washington Monthly took a different approach in how they ranked schools.
For this year’s rankings the number of UTEP students receiving Pell Grants decreased two percent, 58 percent receive Pell Grants.
UTEP has a 37 percent predicted graduation rate, which is two percent higher than last year’s rankings.
In 2016, Gary Edens, vice president for student affairs, said he doesn’t believe in graduation rates because about 70 percent of UTEP students are never calculated into the graduation rates. Edens said students at UTEP often start their education at community colleges and other universities and then make the transition to UTEP.
Washington Monthly uses different categories to determine the score of a university including, social mobility, research, service, 6-year graduation rate, predicted grad rate, and the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants among others.
UTEP President Diana Natalicio said the rankings match with what the school aims for.
“We are pleased to be recognized by Washington Monthly, which also ranked UTEP No. 17 on their list of Best Bang for the Buck Colleges in the South. This publication’s yearly rankings emphasize social mobility, which aligns with our mission to provide all of our students with access to an excellent education, regardless of their background.”
