UT San Antonio Cuts Degree Time, Saves Graduates $4.9 Million in Debt

Graduates of the University of Texas at San Antonio now spend less time in school and carry less debt. The institution cut the average time to degree from 5.3 years to 4.3 years over the past ten years. This shift resulted in combined savings of $4.9 million for students who entered the job market sooner.

UT San Antonio recently renewed its national Seal of Excelencia. It also earned the designation of an Intentionally Thriving Institution. The university is one of only 12 schools in the country to hold this top certification. These honors recognize the school's ability to prepare Latino students and other graduates for careers after they leave campus.

Heather Shipley, the university's provost and senior executive vice president for academic affairs, stated that the recognition reflects a commitment to measurable outcomes. "These distinctions reflect our commitment to using evidence-based strategies to improve persistence, graduation and career attainment," she said. She added that when students thrive, the institution and community benefit from stronger opportunities.

The university serves more than 44,000 students across five campuses. It offers over 350 academic programs. As the third-largest public research university in Texas, it operates as a Carnegie R1-designated institution. UT San Antonio is also one of 13 universities in the nation to hold combined Carnegie designations for research excellence, community engagement, and student social mobility.

The school uses experiential learning to connect classroom studies to the workforce. Students access internships, service learning projects, undergraduate research, and study abroad programs. These opportunities provide hands-on experience and marketable skills. The academic environment supports these pathways through mentorship and student-centered learning across 15 colleges and schools.

Holding the Seal of Excelencia requires institutions to align data, practices, and leadership to ensure student success. Undergraduates at schools with this certification show higher retention rates than the national average. Full-time retention at these institutions stands at 81%, compared to 78% at all institutions. Part-time retention is 50%, compared to 45% nationally.

UT San Antonio first earned the seal six years ago. Since then, it has focused on post-graduation success. The university aims to ensure graduates are ready for civic leadership and professional roles. This creates a talent pipeline that supports the San Antonio economy and the state of Texas.

The university remains one of 21 higher education institutions to earn the Excelencia in Education’s Seal of Excelencia in 2026. It uses this certification to hold itself accountable for delivering value to students and the community. The focus remains on reducing time to degree and increasing the value of a public education for families.

The institution continues to invest in resources that help students prepare for jobs. The University Career Center offers career fairs, resume-building sessions, and interview workshops. These tools are available to all students regardless of their major. The goal is to make the transition from student to worker as smooth as possible.

The university’s approach emphasizes specific results over general goals. By tracking retention and graduation rates, administrators can adjust strategies to keep students on track. The reduction in time to degree is a direct result of these proactive measures. Students benefit from entering the workforce earlier with fewer financial obligations.