Study: UTEP and NMSU rank highest in social mobility, research

Two borderland universities are in the national spotlight.

In a recent study, The Brookings Institution ranks University of Texas at El Paso as the number one university for leaders in equal access to higher education. New Mexico State University ranks second.

The study published earlier this week, examined the performance of 342 universities.

It argues that upper middle class students are over-represented, stating students who come from high-income families receive an average of more than $13 billion for subsidies a year. The study finds that instead, more public funds should go toward universities that tend to lower income students, but are contributing to more research, and elevating people in the middle class.

The study ranks UTEP as number one, and NMSU as number two. The University of New Mexico ranks number 8, and the University of Texas at San Antonio ranks number 10.

As for the “biggest laggards in equal access to higher education”, the study ranks James Madison University as number one.

On Wednesday nearly a dozen high school students were touring UTEP’s campus.

Raquel Rodriguez, a senior at El Paso High School, said she had some concerns about starting college.

“Being able to not be accepted because I’m a low income student,” she said.

Cecilia Gardea was teaching the students about the college and the programs it provides. She said it’s an opportunity not many of them are familiar about.

“Most of these students are first generation students, which is something that the program helps them with,” Gardea said. “To teach them about financial aid, scholarships.”

UTEP President Diana Natalicio said this new study reiterates their mission, to give all students, no matter their income, an equal opportunity.

“What that says is we’re doing high quality work and serving a population that is normally viewed as not having access to those kinds of opportunities,” Natalio told ABC-7.

While UTEP’s been in the spotlight before, Dr. Natalicio said every bit of recognition helps.

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised because this is something we’ve been working on for a long long time,” she said “It gives us a national stage that we don’t get to play on every day.”

NMSU is also sharing that stage. Something students say is well deserved.

“They have a great environment and great resources,” one student said.

“we want that reputation and because we know its easier but when you’re surrounded by people you actually know”

As for UTEP, Dr. Natalicio says when she first started at the school, there weren’t many high schoolers who were recruited, but that has since changed.

“You can’t squander talent so we reach out to all schools in this community,” she said.

To see the full study click here.