UTRGV opened in 2015, formed from UT Brownsville and UT Pan American, and it now has campuses in Edinburg, Brownsville and several other towns along the Mexican border. Most students are bilingual, and plenty of campus life happens in both English and Spanish. It has a young School of Medicine along with engineering, computer science, physics and business programmes, and tuition is low. SpaceX's Starbase launch site is near Brownsville.
Edinburg, Texas, United States
Official website: utrgv.edu
2015
University of Texas
Edinburg, Brownsville and others in the Valley
UTRGV School of Medicine
$15,000 – $19,000
International students, full-time, approximate
$10,000 – $13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on utrgv.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Physics
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Bilingual English and Spanish campus life.
Gravitational-wave astronomy research in the physics department.
Very low tuition by US standards.
Engineering graduates join manufacturers on both sides of the border and aerospace firms near Brownsville.
Business graduates work in trade, logistics and health care across the Valley.
STEM graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Edinburg is part of the McAllen metro area, a fast-growing region of palm-lined roads, citrus groves and Tex-Mex food. Mexico is just across the river.
Living costs are low. The beaches of South Padre Island are about ninety minutes east of Edinburg and much closer to the Brownsville campus.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
UTRGV reviews international applications on a rolling basis, but it's best to apply by about May for fall and October for spring. Some graduate programmes have earlier deadlines, especially for assistantships.
Programmes start in fall (August) and spring (January), with limited summer starts.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, physics and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school results and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 61. Master's programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79.
UTRGV offers some merit scholarships to international students, and graduate assistantships are available in engineering, computer science and physics. Check the scholarships portal for current awards.
