UTSA’s commitment to student success connects departments and colleges in a comprehensive support network that guides students every step of the way. Through an Academic Success District that includes Student Success Centers in each college, the university provides a dynamic model of personalized support—such as academic advising, tutoring and career counseling—to ensure students have access to tailored guidance no matter where they are on campus.

The UTSA Thrive initiative further strengthens this support by building a framework that leverages students' assets and strengths, enhancing advocacy and support for undergraduate success.

At UTSA, academic success and career readiness are seamlessly connected. With a goal of 75% of students graduating with career-related experiences by 2028, UTSA ensures they are ready for the competitive job market.

Experiential learning opportunities—like internships, research, study away, leadership development and the eight-week Najim Strategist Program, where students work with San Antonio organizations to build marketable skills—build a solid foundation for career success. The university also funds opportunities for high-need students to ensure access to these experiences. Career mapping, personalized advising and mentoring further connect students’ education to future careers.

Supporting wellbeing is essential for academic success, fostering a sense of belonging, engagement and resilience that leads to higher academic achievement and personal growth.

Wellbeing is a cornerstone of UTSA's student success model, providing comprehensive support for students' mental, physical and emotional health. The university addresses the full range of student needs through 24/7 counseling services available from their phone or computer, on-campus healthcare through Wellness 360 and an array of programs and events focused on the eight dimensions of wellbeing.

UTSA is proving the power of data to drive student success. By leveraging data analytics, the university can track student progress in real-time identifying those at risk of falling behind and providing targeted interventions. Disaggregated data enables UTSA to address gaps and barriers affecting specific populations, moving beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach with early alerts and personalized advising, so no student slips through the cracks.

Data is also shaping classroom practices at UTSA through the Student Experience Project, designed to enhance learning environments and student success through innovative, research-based practices. Students in participating courses are surveyed four times throughout the semester to assess learning conditions, enabling faculty to make real-time adjustments, improving classroom practices and approaches without waiting for end-of-semester evaluations. As a result, faculty have observed tangible improvements in student outcomes.

UTSA has taken bold steps to elevate the first-year student experience through its First Year Experience(FYE) program, which supports first-time-in-college students as they transition into university life. Central to FYE are peer mentors who connect with first-year students one-on-one, offering academic, social and personal guidance rooted in their own experiences.

Through this mentorship, students gain confidence, establish connections and learn how to navigate college life. FYE offers first-year seminars, personalized orientations and essential resources to help prepare students for long-term success.

At UTSA, where 45% of undergraduates are first-generation students and 40% are transfer students, the nationally recognized First-Generation & Transfer Student Programs focus on supporting their success. UTSA empowers first-gen students through programs like First Gen Scholars, providing families of support with faculty coaching, peer mentoring and career-focused learning to guide students, reduce loan debt, build career readiness skills and increase graduation rates.

The UTSA One project is taking personalized support to the next level thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Education and a partnership with Northwest Vista College. Tailored coaching, guided learning pathways and financial incentives help 450 first-generation students break barriers and achieve their academic and career goals each year,  increasing their persistence, retention, credit completion and grade point average.

Financial challenges don’t stand in the way of student success at UTSA. The university’s efforts to minimize debt and shorten time to degree have reduced graduation time by a year and lowered student loan debt by $5,000 in the past decade.

UTSA reduces the economic barriers that can derail education through innovative financial aid programs that allow students to focus fully on their studies and graduate workforce-ready. The Bold Promise program covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters for eligible low- and middle-income freshmen, and the Bold Scholars program offers eligible students a free, first year on-campus living-learning experience, fostering connections and academic success through specialized programming.

UTSA recognizes the essential role of faculty in student success and invests in their development through innovative programs like peer and departmental mentoring, the Student Experience Project—which has already impacted over 5,600 students and resulted in a 2% reduction in DFW rates and a 3% increase in ABC grades for participants—as well as the Connect & Thrive Faculty Mini-Grant Program, which fosters student-faculty engagement, connection and belonging outside the classroom.

These efforts empower faculty to create enriched learning environments, better understand student needs and strengthen student-faculty connections. By cultivating a more engaged teaching community, UTSA enhances both student outcomes and the overall sense of belonging on campus.

At UTSA, faculty serve as both experts and innovators, offering unique opportunities for undergraduates to engage in real-world research projects. This allows students to collaborate with faculty on important research throughout their academic careers, gaining hands-on experience, enhancing their academic knowledge, building leadership skills and creating pathways to future careers.

For example, undergraduate and graduate students working in the UTSA Hypersonics Lab, contributed to projects like the construction of the Mach 7 Ludwieg Tube Wind Tunnel that conducts tests at seven times the speed of sound. Now, working with faculty, student researchers use the wind tunnel for key research, gaining skills that make them highly competitive in the workforce.

UTSA leads the way in integrating advanced technology into student learning, offering innovative programs like AI Essentials, which offers practical guidance on GenAI’s potential, and the Adobe Student Institute, where students enhance digital literacy skills with Adobe Creative Cloud through self-paced projects.

Additionally, the Emerging Technology Partner Internship allows students to learn about Generative AI, earn microcredentials or badges and contribute to the development of future student guidelines for Generative AI. These opportunities give students hands-on experience with advanced technologies, enhance digital literacy and provide microcredentials that set them apart in the job market.