In an era when colleges are being asked to deliver more value, greater access and stronger outcomes, UT San Antonio is demonstrating what’s possible when purpose and innovation align.
On the heels of the university’s integration, UT San Antonio now stands as the third-largest research university in Texas. Even as the university experiences rapid growth, its unwavering priority remains student success.
By combining innovative academics, personalized support and hands-on learning, the university invests in every student’s success from the first day on campus through graduation and beyond.
Others are taking notice — the university was recently recognized with the prestigious 2025 Excellence in Student Success Award by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for the university’s comprehensive, data-driven approach to advancing student achievement.
Designed to help students succeed
To help students succeed during their time as a Roadrunner, the university has implemented six innovative approaches.
1. Aligning support services to keep students on track
Instead of making students navigate a maze of separate offices for advising, tutoring and career help, the university brings everything together in one connected support system. Through the Roadrunner Success Hub and college-based Student Success Centers, students get the right help at the right time, whether they need academic guidance, extra support in a class or help preparing for a career.
This coordinated approach removes obstacles, keeps students on track and ensures every student has a clear path from enrollment to graduation and beyond.
“I believe deeply that higher education is the greatest opportunity provider, especially when grounded in student success. And when we can create impact at scale for our students, with a premise of balancing access and excellence across the board, we can positively change the trajectory of their families for generations to come.” — Taylor Eighmy, President
2. Using data and predictive analytics to support students early
Through the incorporation of future-forward technologies like predictive analytics, academic advisors and success coaches can identify academic risk for students earlier, allowing them to intervene before challenges become barriers for students. This strategy has contributed to sustained gains in retention and graduation rates, shortened the time to earn a degree, and led to a growing number of students completing their education with less debt.
By reducing the time to degree from 5.3 years on average in 2009 to 4.3 years in 2025, UT San Antonio graduates have saved nearly $5 million during that timeframe.
3. Expanding access to education with enduring value
By addressing the full cost of attendance, including time to degree, financial literacy and access to support services, the university is helping more students graduate with less debt and greater long-term value from their degree.
Programs like Bold Promise give qualifying first-time students the support needed to access a high-quality and affordable education while also keeping them accountable to finish their program in four years. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to social mobility, utilizing education to help students from every background build stronger futures, enabling them to fully engage in the academic experience and achieve their professional goals.
“We’re proving the value of a college degree by focusing on what truly benefits our students — graduating on time, with less debt and well-prepared for the workforce.” — Heather Shipley, Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
4. Embedding career readiness and experiential learning in the curriculum
Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to benefit from experiential learning, internships, undergraduate research and industry partnerships that connect their full university experience to the real-world skills and expectations of today’s workforce.
Career preparation is intentionally integrated across the curriculum, helping students translate their education into meaningful professional pathways while building networks that serve students long after they cross the stage at graduation.
The university’s Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement was recently awarded a 2025 Texas Higher Education Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for promoting student success and career development through workforce-aligned programming.
5. Creating professional pathways for in-demand health careers
The recent integration with UT Health San Antonio has led to expanded opportunities to meet the nation’s surging need for healthcare professionals.
According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, three out of every four jobs added in the U.S. are in healthcare, a demand that UT San Antonio is well-positioned to fulfill with its nationally ranked programs in medicine, dentistry, nursing, allied health professions, public health and biomedical sciences.
By bringing together advanced training, interdisciplinary learning, research and discovery, and real-world clinical experience, the university is expanding access and delivering an education few universities in the nation can match.
“Success for UT San Antonio is to have an impact, to provide better educational opportunities, better discoveries and to improve the quality of life of our students and their families. Better healthcare allows every individual in the communities that we serve the opportunity to reach their highest aspirational goals and strengthens the dignity and well-being of every person we serve.” — Francisco Cigarroa, Senior Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and Health System
6. Delivering real student outcomes through a shared purpose
The university’s student success commitment is grounded in a clear sense of purpose: expanding opportunity, advancing knowledge and improving quality of life in South Texas and beyond.
UT San Antonio is ranked in the top 10% of universities for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report and one of only 21 universities in the nation recognized by Carnegie as both an R1 and Opportunity College & University. This impact is most visible in student outcomes such as higher degree completion rates, reduced debt, stronger career readiness and graduates prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Leading the way
Together, these six strategies, among many more, reflect intentionality. By treating student success as a university-wide responsibility that spans undergraduate, graduate and professional education, UT San Antonio is demonstrating how public universities around the nation can deliver on a promise of access, excellence and impact.
