There is a saying in English — “birds of a feather flock together.” The common phrase suggests that like-minded people tend to be drawn to like-minded people. If you consider yourself welcoming, engaged, and ready to make an impact, then put The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) on your short list of where to apply to study in the USA.
Students at this urban public university are nicknamed Roadrunners for the school’s mascot.
“Every year, we welcome international students from 91 countries to ‘Roadrunner Nation’, a place of collaboration, innovation and discovery,” says Lisa J. Montoya, PhD, vice provost, Global Initiatives & Sr. International Officer. “UTSA students study and research the most important problems of our times and we know many will be a part of solving them, too.”
So, the roadrunner nickname is an apt choice — this Texas bird is known to be fast, adaptive, independent, and expressive. Does that sound like a flock you want to be a part of?
Spotlight on The University of Texas at San Antonio
Students choose The University of Texas at San Antonio for many reasons, including its career and research opportunities, highly ranked programs, campus experience, and renowned faculty.
The University of Texas at San Antonio Rankings and Accolades
R1 Research University (Carnegie Classification, 2023) A Tier One classification puts UTSA in the top 4% of US universities. Only 146 higher education institutions are classified as R1, including elite Ivy League colleges such as Harvard University and Yale University.
#58 Most Innovative Schools (U.S. News & World Report, 2024) UTSA’s 30 research centers drive economic development, discoveries and inventions, and public policy decisions in multiple sectors, including AI engineering, cyber security, brain health, sustainable energy, physics, archaeology, and more.
#2 Cyber Security (Intelligent.com, 2021) San Antonio is the largest cyber and information security hub in the US outside of Washington, DC. In a study by The Ponemon Institute for Hewlett-Packard, IT professionals ranked it the #1 cyber security program in the country, and a recent $500,000 grant from Google will expand UTSA’s Cyber Clinic to provide students with more hands-on training.
More top-ranked graduate programs (U.S. News & World Report, 2024) include:
#79 in Statistics (tie)
#114 Computer Science (tie)
#162 in Psychology (tie)
#167 in Physics (tie)
#173 in Mathematics (tie)
Globally, U.S. News ranks UTSA as:
#100 Best Global Electrical and Electronic Engineering Program
#114 Best Graduate Computer Science Program
#129 Best Global Cyber Security Program
Read more about how US university rankings are determined >
International Student Support
Choosing to study in the USA is a dream for many international students. It can also be an overwhelming process, and a bit intimidating moving so far from friends and family. You and your family should rest easy knowing the support system at UTSA is comprehensive, encompassing all aspects of your success — academic, career, social, and emotional.
From informational webinars to orientation and cultural outings, international students feel supported from day one. As part of the international community at UTSA, you have access to student peer ambassadors, support staff, and social events.
The English Language Center is a hub for international students and ESL programs. From formal tutoring to casual Coffee & Conversation drop-ins, campus staff is ready to help you improve your English language skills and explore American culture.
Affordable Tuition
Tuition affordability also makes UTSA popular with international students. The university strives to make college education accessible to all by offering comparatively moderate tuition costs, the second-lowest across The University of Texas system. In 2024, The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse named UTSA #1 Best Value among Texas public universities and #68 among all US universities.
Diverse, Engaged Community
If you want to be a part of a diverse, engaged community, you’ll find it at UTSA. More than 80 countries are represented in the 34,000-plus student body, with largest representations coming from Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, and Nigeria. UTSA is also a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), making the Latino community feel at home.
Serving the broader San Antonio community is an important part of campus life at UTSA. Students are encouraged to participate and engage in leadership groups and volunteer days to give back to the community. The annual Day of Service brings hundreds of students and faculty together to work with local organizations and nonprofits on food banks, environmental beautification, and donation drives.
Preparing You to Be Career-Ready
Ultimately, your career success is UTSA’s primary goal, and that means giving you the tools for how to land an internship and get your dream job after graduation. While you will gain foundational knowledge in the classroom, UTSA emphasizes hands-on experience as key to finding a job you love.
The team at the University Career Center is ready to guide your career with:
Career assessment to explore your strengths, decide on a career path, and create an action plan.
Internship and job search assistance, including help with company research and submitting applications.
Resume and cover letter review to create or improve your existing credentials.
Interview preparation to practice answers to common questions in mock interviews.
Free headshots for your LinkedIn profile (skip those vacation selfies and leave it to the pros!)
Grad school application assistance if you want to pursue an advanced degree.
As a UTSA student, you will also have access to:
Handshake, a job board site, with job and internship postings from top companies such as Dell Technologies, PepsiCo, and Marathon Petroleum.
Interstride, a platform covering jobs and internships from international-student friendly employers, building community, and navigating the complex immigration landscape.
VMock, an AI- and people-powered feedback platform that can help you improve and better target your resume.
Roadrunner Network, a mentoring and networking site for UTSA students and alumni only. (Remember: birds of a feather flock together — and they help each other!)
Career fairs that bring together lots of employers at once, allowing you to network and apply right on the spot.
Read more about taking advantage of your university’s career center >
Life in San Antonio
Diversity, opportunity, history, and good weather are just a few reasons why international students are drawn to study in San Antonio.
Read our Guide to San Antonio for International Students >
Did You Know?
Getting around San Antonio by public transport is easy — and free for UTSA students.
With a population of more than 1.4 million people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas and the seventh-largest in the US. A destination for young professionals, tourists, and businesses alike, the city boasts several fun statistics and accolades:
34 million tourists a year (VisitSanAntonio.com, 2023)
Named #4 on Forbes’ “America’s Next Boom Town” list
Ranked #10 among the Travel + Leisure “Readers’ Top 15 Favorite Cities” (2023)
Nicknamed the “Sunshine City” for San Antonio’s average of 220 sunny days per year
San Antonio also provides easy access to other popular Texas cities: It’s just over an hour’s drive to Austin, the state capital; less than four hours to Houston; four-plus hours to Dallas; and two hours to the popular beach town of Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico coast.
Job and Internship Opportunities
Studying in San Antonio also means you will have access to jobs, internships, and networking opportunities. The city is headquarters to several Fortune 500 companies, including Valero Energy, Andeavor, USAA insurance, iHeartMedia, NuStar Energy, and CST Brands. Major companies such as Google, Meta, PepsiCo, Hulu, and Cisco also have offices in San Antonio.
Texas is the third most-popular state in the US for international students, according to data from BestColleges.com. With a growing economy, thriving job market, warm weather, and welcoming people, it’s easy to see why.
Vibrant Campus Life
When you step on campus for the first time, you will see students proudly wearing lots of orange, white, and blue (the school colors). You might even spot a “Birds up!” hand sign or two.
As a Roadrunner, you’ll feel welcomed into this spirited community immediately. The Student Union, Multicultural Student Center, and Rec Center are just a few of the bustling spots on campus where students meet for coffee, lunch, a study session, or a workout.
But there are many ways to get involved on campus:
400+ student organizations — Whether it’s extracurricular sports, career networking, academic groups, or leadership training, UTSA has hundreds of groups to check out. Women in STEM, Advanced Robotics, taekwondo, theater, pickleball, and gaming are just a few.
NCAA Sports — UTSA competes in NCAA Division I, the highest level of competitive college sports in the US. The university has 17 teams across men’s and women’s sports, including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track and field. On Saturdays in the fall, fans fill the 65,000-seat Alamodome in downtown San Antonio to watch the Roadrunners take on rival football teams like Tennessee and Tulane.
Social and entertainment events — From concerts, stand-up comedians, and arts festivals to speakers series, game nights, and karaoke, there is always something happening on campus. Annual events like the Howdy Rowdy Bash, BestFest, and Día en la Sombrilla are always starred on the calendar.
With plenty of opportunities to make friends and explore new interests on campus, it’s no surprise that the Wall Street Journal ranked UTSA #26 in the US for Student Experience.
Pursuing Your Academic Degree at UTSA
UTSA is a world-class institution with a supportive environment that emphasizes real-world experience, research opportunities, and community engagement. The robust learning environment focuses on career success and strongly encourages practical work experience in addition to classroom studies.
Undergraduate Programs at UTSA
The University of Texas at San Antonio offers more than 85 undergraduate degrees. A few popular programs for international students include:
Architecture, Construction & Planning
Business
Education and Human Development
Engineering
Health, Community & Policy
Liberal and Fine Arts
Multidisciplinary Studies
Sciences
Graduate Programs at UTSA
Year after year, international student enrollment at the graduate level has continued to grow at UTSA, up from 6% to 8% in 2021. Included as a Best Business School by U.S. News & World Report (2024), the university also has top-ranked programs in engineering, computer science (including cyber security), economics, psychology, chemistry, and biological sciences.
Did You Know?
UTSA is one of 10 universities in the country to be endorsed by the National Security Association and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Excellence in the areas of cyber security education, operations, and research.
Shorelight is proud to offer international students the opportunity to apply for the following master’s degree programs:
MS Computer Science
MS Artificial Intelligence
MS Cyber Security
MS Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering
MS Advanced Materials Engineering
MS Aerospace Engineering
MS Applied Mathematics – Industrial Mathematics
MS Biotechnology
MS Computer Engineering
MS Cyber Security – Information Technology
MS Electrical Engineering
MS Mechanical Engineering
Looking to specialize your advanced degree? Graduate tracks include:
Advanced Materials Engineering
Architecture
Artificial Intelligence
Biomedical Engineering
Civil Engineering – Geotechnical
Civil Engineering – Structures
Civil Engineering – Transportation
Civil Engineering – Water Resources
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Cyber Security Science
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Applied Mathematics
Mathematics Education
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Urban and Regional Planning
Academic English and Pathway Programs
As an international student, you may want to improve your English skills and experience US classrooms before officially enrolling at university. UTSA’s Academic English and Pathway programs are designed specifically for non-native speakers to gain more confidence in their ESL skills.
Pathway programs offer English immersion courses and credit-bearing courses, along with personalized attention, tutoring support, campus transition, and career assistance.
English-intensive programs are offered at five levels — from beginner to advanced — and cover reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, speaking, pronunciation, TOEFL prep, and American culture.
“At UTSA, our partnership with Shorelight includes preparing students before they arrive so they know what to expect,” says Montoya. “All the preparation supports student onboarding and ultimately, student success.”
On the Road to Success at UTSA
Ready to become a Roadrunner? By applying through Shorelight, you receive dedicated international student support from application to campus arrival, so you can begin your college career with confidence.
International student services include:
Streamlined application process
Visa application assistance
Academic advising and English-language support
Career development
Internship access
And more!
Talk to an enrollment advisor today about The University of Texas at San Antonio >
