Featuring Quality Matters certification, the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley is a USDLA member using Blackboard Learn to deliver four partially online bachelor and 24 fully online master’s programs. Fourteen certificates, such as Court Interpreting, TxVSN Digital Literacies, Film Studies, and Assessment of Exceptional Learners, are online. Courses follow the 16-week semester or have accelerated, seven-week modules with a 20:1 student-faculty ratio. The Center for Online Learning also offers course demos, technical support, Edinburg Library access, off-campus test proctoring, mobile apps, and Tegrity videos. Two samples of UTRGV online programs are:
The University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Sports Medicine Online.
International Trade
Directed by Dr. Akinloye Akindayomi, the Robert C. Vackar College’s International Trade (MBA) starts five times yearly for UTRGV post-grads managing the trans-border shipment of goods to stimulate economically sustainable supply chains. The 36-credit, 12-month program accelerates toward the strategic capstone with seven-week online courses like Commerce Law, Intellectual Property Protection, International Sales, and Foundations of Marketing.
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Accredited by the NAACLS in 2016, the College of Health Affairs’ Clinical Laboratory Sciences (MS) is an Excelencia in Education Award-winner with a 93.5 percent certification rate for medical technologists moving to middle-management jobs. The 36-credit, one-year curriculum organized by Dr. Saraswathy Nair integrates clinical applications practicum into accelerated courses like Infectious Disease Diagnosis, Hematology, and Pathophysiology.
Other online degrees from the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley include the Multidisciplinary Studies BMS, Registered Nurse to BSN, Nutrition MS, Public Affairs MPA, Elementary Math and Science Education MEd, Spanish Translation MA, Kinesiology MS, Educational Technology MEd, and Financial Planning MBA.
About The University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley was created in June 2013 by Governor Rick Perry by merging the Pan American, Brownsville, and Texas Southmost College campuses into one. Endowed for $46.1 million, Southwest’s youngest, the 21st-century public institution then started its School of Medicine in 2016. UTRGV now enrolls 27,551 Vaqueros, 80 percent of whom are Hispanic, from 67 nations across 11 divisions. Based in “Gateway City,” Rio Grande Valley has expanded to cover 550 acres from Harlingen to South Padre Island with the Center for Online Learning. Linked to 8,116 LinkedIn alumni, UTRGV has trained Ruben Hinojosa, Valente Rodriguez, Gloria Anzaldua, Javier Palomarez, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Rio Grande Valley in the top 300 national universities with the 174th best social work and 205th best online MBA programs. On Niche, UTRGV is America’s 244th best campus, 281st top public university, and 243rd best faculty. Forbes chose the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley 235th among research institutions with the 252nd best value. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education placed UTRGV third countrywide for bachelor’s production. In Washington Monthly, Rio Grande Valley landed 307th for financial aid and 336th for Ph.D. completion. PayScale reported a 20-year net ROI of $192,000 at the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley.
The University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley Accreditation Details
Since December 2016, the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley has had its Level VI regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) on probation under president Dr. Guy Bailey. This doesn’t affect the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Title-IV eligibility for UTRGV’s 64 baccalaureates, 49 master’s, and four doctoral programs though. Certain academic departments have also achieved programmatic accreditation from these:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley Application Requirements
Studying online with the University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley still means passing the 80 percent admission rate classified as “non-competitive” by Peterson’s. The Center for Online Learning only admits at least sophomores who’ve finished 42+ accredited college credits. An AAS degree is required for the Online Health Services Technology BAT. Transcripts must show a minimum 2.0 GPA, but the average is 3.4. If submitted, test scores should be above 1100 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT. Online master’s programs always necessitate a four-year baccalaureate with a cumulative GPA above 2.5. Most MEd students need teaching certification and criminal background checks. The Online MSN accepts registered nurses with more than 2 years of clinical experience. Scoring over 400 on the GMAT or 146 (verbal) and 146 (quantitative) on the GRE is expected.
The University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley has priority undergrad deadlines of February 1st for Fall and November 1st for Spring. Online students can apply for each module until December 3rd, January 28th, March 25th, May 20th, July 22nd, and September 17th. Log into the Self Service Center to create an online application or use the ApplyTexas platform. If needed, extra materials could be mailed to 1201 West University Drive in Edinburg, TX 78539. Hopeful Vaqueros shouldn’t miss the following:
- $50 fee by MasterCard, Visa, or Discover
- Official college or university transcripts
- College entrance exams (i.e. GMAT or GRE)
- TSI Assessment scores or proof of exemption
- Two letters of academic/work recommendation
- Typed, double-spaced personal intent essay
Tuition and Financial Aid
Traditional UTRGV undergrad tuition is $7,587 for Texans and $17,547 for non-residents each year full-time. Total price tags can rise to $30,943 when the $7,986 room and board and $1,210 textbook costs are added. Luckily, the Center for Online Learning simplifies expenses. The online Registered Nurse to BSN program bills just $277 per credit or $7,479 total, but master’s prices range. The online Health Care Administration MS charges $444 per credit or $15,984 total. Accountancy MBA students pay $472 per credit or $14,160 total. The online MSW – Direct Practice with Latinos costs Advanced Standing grads $444 per credit or $14,652 total.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 91 percent of UTRGV Vaqueros share $133.4 million in financial aid packages worth $7,315 on average. Institutional awards include the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship, Daniel Foltz Memorial Scholarship, Hermino Yturria Scholarship, Selden Leavell Scholarship, Gloria Barriero Garza Memorial Scholarship, Martha Zuniga Hardning Scholarship, and Prachee Singh Scholarship. FAFSA applications filed with code 003599 by June 30th might qualify for Pell Grant or FSEOG Grant funding. LoneStar State residents are eligible under SB1528 for the Texas Public Educational Grant, Top 10 Percent Scholarship, Fifth Year Accounting Scholarship, or Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship. Other options are the Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans, Border County Waiver, Yellow Ribbon Program, Hope Tax Credit, Hazlewood Exemption, and Good Neighbor Scholarship.
Website: University of Texas at the Rio Grande Valley
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