The San Antonio River rises from springs on the University of the Incarnate Word's campus, next to Brackenridge Park north of downtown. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word founded the university in 1881, and it's now one of the largest Catholic universities in Texas. It teaches business, nursing, pharmacy, optometry and osteopathic medicine, plus fashion and design. Many students are Hispanic, and the campus has a close community feel.
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Official website: uiw.edu
1881, by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
Private Catholic university
Pharmacy, optometry and osteopathic medicine
Source of the San Antonio River
$36,000 – $40,000
Undergraduate tuition, before scholarships
$13,000 – $17,000
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 uiw.edu before you apply.
BBA Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
DoctorateDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
TOEFL: 79, science prerequisites
BA Fashion Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
The headwaters of the San Antonio River on campus.
Professional schools in pharmacy, optometry and osteopathic medicine.
A long-running fashion programme with an annual student show.
Health graduates join San Antonio's large hospital and military medical sector.
Business graduates work in finance, insurance and tourism; USAA and H-E-B are big local employers.
STEM graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Campus is beside Brackenridge Park and the San Antonio Zoo, with the Pearl district's restaurants and the River Walk a short drive south.
San Antonio is one of the cheaper big cities in Texas. Summers are very hot, and Mexican-American culture shapes the food, music and festivals, including Fiesta each April.
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
UIW reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis; apply by about May for fall and October for spring. Pharmacy, optometry and medicine use national application services with their own earlier deadlines.
Most programmes start in fall (August) and spring (January). Professional health programmes start in the fall.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, University of the Incarnate Word issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Business, nursing, the MBA, pharmacy and fashion management are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school results and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 70. Health professional programmes need prior college science courses and are competitive.
Yes. UIW awards merit scholarships to many international undergraduates at admission, which lowers the list price significantly. Graduate awards are more limited.
