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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: UTRGV Library, Edinburg Campus
Photo: MrAlexGarrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  • LocationEdinburg, TX
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 31,931 students
Official website

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is in Edinburg, Texas. FOCUS lists the university among the campuses it serves, with a campus page naming four missionaries.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miSaint Joseph Catholic Church: 0.9 mi1Sacred Heart Catholic Church: 1.0 mi2Holy Faily Catholic Church: 1.7 mi3The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Joseph Catholic Church — 0.9 mi · 114 West Fay Street, Edinburg
  2. Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 215 North 16th Avenue, Edinburg
  3. Holy Faily Catholic Church — 1.7 mi · 1302 East Champion Street, Edinburg

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (FOCUS lists a campus page for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with missionaries. FOCUS is counted as one group.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Florida International UniversityUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley University of Texas – San Antonio”
      FOCUS lists the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley among the campuses it serves.
    2. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “That’s why we’re here. Let’s meet up sometime.”
      The FOCUS campus page for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lists missionaries for the campus and invites students to meet them.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • FOCUS lists a campus team for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
    Sources (2)
    1. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Florida International UniversityUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley University of Texas – San Antonio”
      FOCUS lists the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley among the campuses it serves.
    2. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “That’s why we’re here. Let’s meet up sometime.”
      The FOCUS campus page for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lists missionaries for the campus and invites students to meet them.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (1)
  1. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | FOCUSfocus.org/campus/university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “That’s why we’re here. Let’s meet up sometime.”
    The FOCUS campus page for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lists missionaries for the campus and invites students to meet them.

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
53 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.51%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.81%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 985 · ACT 18
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.20 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,787

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division I · Western Athletic Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member20 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
27,040
Total students31,931
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$4,831
Cost of attendance (per year)$16,830
Median federal debt at graduation$12,950
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
51%
First-year retention81%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$49,620
Admission rate94%
Students receiving Pell grants65%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 880–1090ACT 15–21
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT985
SAT reading & writing460–560
SAT math420–530
ACT composite15–21
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 67 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Brownsville

The Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 227368
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley a Catholic college?
No. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by FOCUS, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley campus team.

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