UT institutions produce more than 20,000 new graduates at fall commencements

The University of Texas System’s eight academic institutions recently held commencement ceremonies, celebrating more than 22,000 new graduates who successfully completed their college careers in December.

The UT System awards more degrees than any other public higher education system in Texas. More than one-third of all degrees awarded by Texas public higher education institutions in 2017 were earned at UT institutions. Over the past five years, the number of degrees awarded at UT institutions increased by 20%. And more than 43% of all UT degrees—51% of undergraduate degrees—were awarded to minority students in 2017.

“A college degree is critical to economic and social mobility. When a student graduates, having a degree positively affects not just his or her life, but also their families, communities and society as a whole,” said UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken. “UT faculty and staff have a profound commitment to student success, and I congratulate the institutions and the graduates on these impressive fall numbers.”

The number of degrees awarded in December at each UT academic institution follows:

• UT Austin – 2,741
• UT Arlington – 5,400
• UT Dallas – 2,713
• UT El Paso – 2,577
• UT Permian Basin – 400+
• UT Rio Grande Valley – 2,628
• UT San Antonio – 4,179
• UT Tyler – 1,510

These new UT alumni are leaving college with less debt and more earnings power on average than many of their peers. According to UT System’s Office of Strategic Initiatives, the debt-to-income ratio of UT baccalaureates is 7.8% one year after graduation, below the recommended threshold of 10%.

About The University of Texas System
For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 14 institutions, an enrollment of more than 235,000 students and an operating budget of $19.5 billion (FY 2019), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce nearly 59,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and almost two-thirds of its health professional degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 7.8 million outpatient visits and 1.6 million hospital days last year. Across UT institutions, research and development expenditures total $2.7 billion – the second highest among U.S. public higher education systems – and the UT System is regularly ranked among the top 10 most innovative universities in the world. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and nearly 85,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff.