General Application Information
APPLICATION PROCESS
Students are admitted to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, which is responsible for administering admission policies. Students who wish to attend the university must meet all admission requirements by the published deadline for the semester for which they are applying.
Admission is valid for two semesters if there is no change in the applicant's academic history or educational foals, some exceptions apply. A new application will be needed if the student does not enroll within two semesters.
Required official high school and/or college transcripts must be requested from each individual institution attended. The official transcripts must be received directly from the institution or may be hand delivered as long as they are in a sealed envelope from the institution. The official transcript should not reflect Issued to Student. Transcripts must not be older than 6 months. All documents submitted become the property of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Documents submitted will not be returned to student. Test scores must be sent directly by the testing agency or appear on an official high school transcript.
Documents must be sent through one of the following methods:
• Upload: https://enrollment.utrgv.edu/documentcentral
• Email: application@utrgv.edu
• Mail: Attn: Office of Undergraduate Admissions
1201 West University Dr. ESSBL 1.113
Edinburg, TX 78539
• In-Person: Visitors Center
Student Services Bldg. First Floor
1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, TX 78539
Visitors Center
Vaquero Plaza, Bldg. B
2395 W University Boulevard, Brownsville, TX 78521
APPLYTEXAS APPLICATION
In accordance with Sections 51.762 and 51.763 of the Texas Education Code, students have the opportunity to apply to any public institution in the state of Texas through a common application process. Please check with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for full details. The application is available online at www.applytexas.org.
Although the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will make every effort to inform applicants of incomplete files, it is recommended that applicants track their application status through ASSIST by logging into my.utrgv.edu. Applications received close to the start of the application term might not provide sufficient time for notifications to be sent to applicants. Applicants will be issued a UTRGV ID number to be used as a student identification number. Students are encouraged to include the UTRGV ID number when requesting information regarding their records.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The priority deadlines to submit an admission application are as follows:
- Summer Sessions – April 1st
- Fall Semester – May1st
- Spring Semester – November 1st
Applicants must submit all the required documents before their application can be considered for admission. Applications completed after the published priority deadline will still be considered for the term, but processing times may be longer.
NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION DECISIONS
Admission decisions are made throughout the application period on a rolling basis and can include decisions prior to the completion of high school or current college enrollment, including denial of the applicant. Applicants who were accepted pending completion of high school or current college enrollment are required to submit final transcripts when that institution has transcribed all coursework and final grade calculations. Freshman applicants accepted for admission are required to attend New Student Orientation prior to enrolling for courses. Transfer students are also required to attend New Student Orientation but may enroll prior to orientation.
APPEALING DECISIONS
Admissions decisions are final. However, situations where an appeal may be appropriate include improved test scores not reviewed previously, new, or improved high school transcript information (GPA, ranking, coursework), clerical or procedural errors outside of the applicant’s control, etc. The appeal must be submitted through www.utrgv.edu/appeals by the deadlines below.
Priority deadlines to appeal an admission decision follow:
- Summer Session I – May 1st
- Summer Session II – July 1st
- Fall semester – August 1st
- Spring semester – January 1st
ACADEMIC FRESH START
For Undergraduate Programs, an applicant for admission who is a Texas resident may seek to enter this institution pursuant to the “Academic Fresh Start” statute, Texas Education Code, Section 51.931. When the applicant informs the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of the University Registrar in writing of the election before the application is accepted, the institution, for admissions purposes, will not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who makes the election to apply under this statute may not receive any course credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions works with university offices to ensure Academic Fresh Start is reflected in the student's academic record.
Students admitted under Academic Fresh Start should speak with a U Central representative in Brownsville or Edinburg to understand aid eligibility. For the purpose of Financial Aid, all courses taken during a student’s college or university career are counted toward Satisfactory Academic Progress.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Certain programs require students to submit to and satisfactorily complete a criminal background check review as a condition of admission and/or participation in education experiences. Students who refuse to submit to a background check or who do not pass the background check may be dismissed from the program. See UTRGV Handbook of Operating Procedures for more information.
INCORRECT AND INCOMPLETE ADMISSION APPLICATIONS
Applicants for admission to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley should be aware that the information submitted will be relied upon by university officials to determine their status for admission and residency for tuition purposes. Failure to submit a complete and correct application, including all transcripts, is grounds for rejection of the application, withdrawal of an offer of acceptance, or, after enrollment, any disciplinary action including expulsion. Any applicant, whether a new student or a former student at the university, who has attended another collegiate institution is not at liberty to disregard any part of the collegiate record and apply for admission to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on the basis of the high school record or a partial record of his or her college work. All students/applicants are subject without exception to the regulations given above. Students who have course credit or grades earned 10 or more years ago may elect to be readmitted under the Academic Fresh Start program.