“Public R1 research university in North Texas offering over 180 degree programs.”
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is a large, Carnegie R1 public research university in the heart of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, serving roughly 41,000 students on a 420-acre urban campus that sits between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas. A member of the University of Texas System, UTA is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and it is one of the most diverse large universities in the country — a student body drawn from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, including one of the largest international cohorts in the UT System with roughly 4,900 international students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Academically, UTA offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across nine colleges and schools, with standout strengths in engineering, nursing, business, architecture, social work, and the sciences. The College of Engineering is the largest in North Texas — offering twelve bachelor's, thirteen master's, and nine doctoral programs — and the College of Nursing & Health Innovation is one of the largest producers of BSN graduates in the country. UTA competes at NCAA Division I (Western Athletic Conference) and ranks among the top national leaders on US News' Social Mobility list, reflecting its mission of widening access to high-quality, career-ready degrees. For international students, UTA offers a particularly strong value proposition: test-optional undergraduate admissions, generous merit scholarships that can include in-state tuition rates, an active International Student Services office, a dedicated STEM career pipeline into DFW employers (Lockheed Martin, Bell, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, Raytheon, and a dense aerospace/defense cluster), and clear OPT/CPT pathways. The urban setting places students within quick light-rail or highway access to professional sports, world-class museums, and two of the country's busiest airports (DFW and DAL).
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research classification
Carnegie
Best University in DFW
Wall Street Journal
Innovation
U.S. News & World Report
No. 1 University in DFW
Wall Street Journal
University in DFW
Wall Street Journal, 2025
Graduates with best salaries in DFW
Wall Street Journal, 2025
Least debt among graduates in DFW
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourcePriority FAFSA
Also deadline for Blaze Forward and merit scholarships
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$11,950
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$29,582
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Flagship engineering program with direct co-op and hiring pipelines into Lockheed Martin, Bell Flight, and North Texas's deep aerospace cluster.
4 years
One of the largest and most respected nursing programs in the country, with strong NCLEX pass rates and clinical placements in DFW hospital systems.
4 years
STEM-designated program (eligible for 24-month STEM OPT extension) feeding into DFW's rapidly growing tech and fintech employers.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $29,582
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.