UTA First in Texas for Bachelor's, Master's Degrees Earned by African Americans
By Devynn Case, UT Arlington Communications
Posted on January 29, 2021, January 29, 2021

UTA student in classroom

More African American students earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees from The University of Texas at Arlington than any other four-year institution in the state, according to an annual report from "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education" magazine.

The magazine’s annual list of the nation’s most diverse universities again recognizes UT Arlington as a leader in the education of diverse, workforce-ready students. According to the magazine’s rankings:

  • In addition to being first in Texas, UTA is No. 12 nationally for bachelor’s degrees awarded to African American students and No. 13 for master’s degrees.
  • The University also ranked first in Texas for number of master’s degrees awarded to all minority students and 15th nationally. UTA is No. 13 nationally for bachelor’s degrees awarded to all minority students.
  • Nationally, UTA ranked No. 15 for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students and No. 11 for master’s degrees.

“Institutions like The University of Texas at Arlington that are truly inclusive and that embrace and advance diversity and equity in every area of operation will support their students in their educational journeys to success,” said Teik C. Lim, UTA’s interim president. “I’m proud of our faculty and staff, who are committed to empowering people from all backgrounds with the education and skills necessary for making a difference in the 21st-century American workforce. Through our focused efforts and innovative programs, we are expanding career options for students across Texas.”

For nearly three decades, "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education" has identified the top 100 institutions awarding degrees to minority students, using the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Education. In last year’s rankings, UTA also was No. 1 in Texas for master’s degrees awarded to all minority students and for the number of degrees earned by African American students at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels.

With a focus on access and excellence, UTA is among the most diverse universities in the nation. Other honors include:

  • UTA is one of a select few universities in the nation to achieve designations of both Hispanic-Serving Institution and Carnegie R-1: “Very High Research” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
  • "U.S. News & World Report" ranked UTA fifth among national universities for undergraduate ethnic diversity in 2021.
  • "Hispanic Outlook on Education" magazine ranked UTA among its top 100 universities nationwide for Hispanic students. It was No. 24 in total enrollment and No. 9 in master’s degrees.

“Our commitment is to provide the knowledge and experiences that future graduates will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said Troy Johnson, vice president for enrollment management. “By continuing to create and support a community of diverse learners who will succeed together and teach one another, we have developed a great mix of talented students with different perspectives who enrich our campus and forge our unique identity as Mavericks.”

UT Arlington, Support Youth and Families
News, Headlines, Education