50 Quick Facts About UTPB in Honor of Our 50th Anniversary 

In 2023, The University of Texas Permian Basin is proudly celebrating 50 years of providing a world-class education to students from Texas and around the globe! To commemorate this milestone, we’ve put together a list of 50 historical, informative, fun, and even surprising facts about our university, our campuses, and the surrounding area. You’re sure to discover a lot you never knew about UT Permian Basin! 

1. UT Permian Basin was established by the Texas Legislature in 1969, but construction didn’t begin until 1972. 

2. The first classes at UT Permian Basin were held on September 4, 1973. 

3. We were originally designated as an upper-level university. 

4. We opened to freshmen and sophomore classes during the Fall 1991 semester. 

5. We have campuses in Odessa and Midland, Texas. 

6. We were ranked #23 of 200 in Newsweek’s “America’s Top Online Colleges 2023.”  

7. We were named among Best Online MBA Programs for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.  

8. We were named among Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.  

9. We were named among Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.  

10. We were named among Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.  

11. We were named among Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report.  

12. We were named among Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report. 

13. We were awarded as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by Money in 2023.  

14. With a Falcon Family of about 5,000 students, UT Permian Basin is uniquely positioned to provide a welcoming, personalized college experience. 

15. UT Permian Basin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This accreditation signifies that we meet the highest educational quality standards in our region. 

16. Our College of Education programs are nationally accredited by the distinguished Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). 

17. Our College of Education programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—a distinction held by just 5% of business programs worldwide! 

18. Our School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

19. The Permian Basin, home to both UT Permian Basin campuses, is 75,000 square miles in size. 

20. The UT Permian Basin Odessa campus is home to a Stonehenge replica that’s nearly the same size as the original monument. 

21. The childhood home of President George W. Bush is displayed at the UT Permian Basin Midland campus. 

22. UT Permian Basin’s dance team received their first bid to Nationals (NCA) in 2023.  

23. We hold FalconPalooza—a unique celebration featuring food, music, and amateur sports—every spring. 

24. Odessa was the inspiration for the award-winning Friday Night Lights book, movie, and TV show.  

25. UT Permian Basin is composed of six academic colleges and schools. 

26. We’re the academic home of students from 45 countries and counting. 

27. We have students from 36 states and counting. 

28. More than half of our students are first-generation college students. 

29. UT Permian Basin students beat the Texas average in medical school admissions by 30%. 

30. We’re one of eight academic institutions in the acclaimed University of Texas System. 

31. UT Permian Basin confers in excess of $49.8 million in financial aid annually. 

32. Through Falcon Free, UT Permian Basin is helping eligible Texas residents earn a bachelor’s degree at virtually no cost. 

33. We’re one of the state’s top five most affordable universities. 

34. UT Permian Basin has some of the lowest tuition rates nationwide for an accredited university. 

35. We offer 40+ online degree and certificate programs. 

36. We offer 50+ total degree and certificate programs, representing campus-based and online programs. 

37. UT Permian Basin was honored with a “UTPB Day” at the Texas capitol in May 2023. 

38. Our notable alumni include an energy services company CEO, a NASA flight surgeon who worked on the International Space Station, a New York Times best-selling author, a professional tennis player, a poet laureate, and a social justice leader.  

39. UT Permian Basin has six men’s sports teams and eight women’s sports teams. 

40. Odessa is one of the two largest economic centers in West Texas.  

41. The world’s largest oil field, the Permian Basin stretches across Texas and New Mexico. 

42. The Permian Basin is increasingly becoming known for renewable energy production. 

43. UT Permian Basin is one of only two University of Texas System academic institutions serving West Texas. 

44. Many of our programs offer students the flexibility of six start times per year. 

45. We accept applications on a rolling admissions basis, which means any applications that miss the deadline will automatically roll over for consideration during the following semester. 

46. We offer accelerated, eight-week online programs. 

47. UT Permian Basin offers the only online industrial technology programs in The University of Texas System. 

48. We strive to give online students access to all the same services as campus-based students, including advising, career services, library services, and more. 

49. We have more than 18,000 alumni, and every one of them is considered forever a Falcon. 

50. Located on our Midland campus, the beautiful Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center hosts internationally renowned musical and theatrical acts.  

Believe it or not, there’s still much more to learn about UT Permian Basin and our programs! We invite you to do so now.