Online Degrees Available at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Nursing Education Degrees Online.
The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley offers numerous degree programs fully online. These include a Master’s in Bilingual Education, Master of Education in Educational Technology, Master of Science in Kinesiology, Master of Science in Mathematics, Master of Spanish Language Interpretation, Master of Science in Nursing Education and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. The school offers a minor in film studies that is earned online. The Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree is intended for students that have a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies and who want to add to that knowledge. It contains three four-week clinical tracks and a research component.
There are 14 certificate programs that are offered completely online as well. Students can choose from Advanced Placement Spanish Literature, Court Interpreting, Digital Literacy Leader, E-Learning, Healthcare Interpretation, Literacy Translation, Localization and Audiovisual Translation, Master Reading Teacher Certification, Spanish Translation, Technology Leadership in Education, TxVSN Digital Literacy and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The Psychiatric Mental Health certificate is a post-master’s program for registered nurses who have a Master’s in Nursing degree and who want to add mental health skills to their capabilities.
There are three degree programs that are earned partially online. The online component generally occurs in the last two years of the program. The 120-credit-hour bachelor’s degree programs can be completed in 36 months of full-time study. Students may choose from the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies and the Bachelor of Applied Technology. The Bachelor of Applied Technology is intended for students with an Associate of Applied Science in Technology and adds leadership and management skills to the knowledge the student gained in the associate program.
About the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas is a large university system in Texas that includes eight universities and six medical facilities. The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley is one of the largest institutions in the United States to have a majority Hispanic student population. The school was founded in 2013 and is termed a public research university that awards bachelors degrees in 64 areas, has 49 masters programs, four doctoral programs, and two cooperative doctoral degrees.
Because it is close to the Gulf Coast, the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley offers some unique learning experiences. Students in criminal justice programs can see first-hand how border issues affect the United States. Business students can benefit from the trade and industry generated by the proximity to international shipping, and those in marine biology have a close-up look at coastal environmental themes.
The US News and World Report ranked this school as 231th-300th of National Universities. The school’s online Master of Arts is ranked as 205th-267th. The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley has the third-lowest tuition of Texas public universities.
University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley Accreditation Details
The university is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Business programs are accredited through the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business.
University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley Application Requirements
Students applying to the university as first-time undergraduates may apply online using either the common application (ApplyTexas) or the application form from the Coalition for College Access, Affordability, and Success. There is a $75 non-refundable application fee. The applications feature three prompts that the applicants must answer in a one-paragraph statement. Students wishing to enter the art and art history, nursing or social work programs must complete additional prompts. Students must arrange for their high school to send their official transcripts to the university. They must also have the testing agency for the SAT or ACT, whichever they took, submit those scores. Letters of recommendation and resumes are not required, but they will be considered. Additional materials may be requested by individual departments.
Graduate students apply online as well. There are specific applications for the business program, engineering, social work, Executive Master in Public Leadership and the School of Law. All other majors use the ApplyTexas form. There is a $65 non-refundable application fee for most majors, but the MBA fee is $200, and the MPA fee is $125. Graduate applicants must submit transcripts of all college coursework as well as the scores of their GRE or GMAT tests. Many programs also require letters of recommendation and additional materials.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley is guaranteed for four years from the date students begin college work. The average tuition for an undergraduate is $3,906.56 per semester. In addition, room-and-board is estimated at $7,986. The university estimates students spend $1,200 on books and supplies. With other expenses, the cost-of-attendance for an undergraduate at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley is approximately $29,668 per year.
Graduate tuition for 10 credit hours is $7,410 per year. Additionally, graduate students living on campus will pay $7,986 per year for room-and-board. With books, supplies and other incidental expenses, the cost-of-attendance for graduate students is estimated at $29,668 as well. Graduate tuition is guaranteed for two years, as is online tuition.
Even though this school has one of the lower tuition rates in Texas, students will probably still need assistance to pay for their degree programs. Before looking at other scholarships and grants, students should complete the FAFSA form. This government program collects financial information from applicants and uses it to assess their eligibility for “free money” in the form of grants, student loans, and work-study programs. The program sends out award letters to students who then have a better understanding of how much money they will still owe. Texas offers several grant programs including the Achieve Grant for students with family incomes of $50,000 or less, the Texas Grant and the Texas Public Educational Grant. The state also offers the Texas TEACH award that is available on a federal level as well. The University has scholarships that are usually based on scholastic merit or leadership potential. Departmental grants and scholarships are available as are activity and sports financial awards. Private individuals fund scholarships with varying requirements and service clubs and businesses also offer money to students in specific majors or with financial need. These opportunities can be found through an Internet search.
Students who have used all their scholarship and grant money and still have a student debt can take out student loans. These are loans that have lower interest rates than commercial loans and allow the borrower to repay them after graduation. Part-time employment is another option, as are work-study jobs that are scheduled in consideration of class times and allow students to get valuable experience and add to their resumes.
The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley offers many programs to a diverse student body.