MCALLEN, Texas - South Texas College’s student population has shot up from 30,000-plus to more than 43,000, thanks to a new way of measuring the count.
As a result, STC is now the largest serving higher education institution in South Texas. UT-Rio Grande Valley has 35,000-plus students.
STC President Ricardo Solis explained the new way of counting students at his college’s Fall Convocation, which was held at McAllen Convention Center on Sept. 25, 2026. More than a thousand staff and faculty were in attendance.
“We served over 43,000 students this past academic year. That number is official and in the record books,” Solis said, in his keynote address. “This is not just hyper-promotional. The number should be higher next year. We saw a five percent increase in enrollment over last year. Yes, thanks for everyone, a five percent enrollment growth. Thanks for all the hard efforts, and of course our dual credit group as well, and our new innovative academic programs meeting the needs of the community.”
Solis continued: “That 43,000 represents both traditional and professional credit students because all STC students are STC students. These are our students. Going forward, use the 43,000. Our enrollment should always reflect all who we serve, both credit and non-credit students.”
Solis concluded his remarks by saying: “There can be no opportunity without the most valuable college asset: the employees, you, the faculty, and staff. Did I mention 43,000? What does that mean? Well, officially, actually, we are the largest higher education institution in South Texas. Marketing, take note. It is worth repeating that together we prove that when opportunity is powered by possibility, there is no limit to what can be achieved.”
According to a Fact Sheet STC published for 2025-26, the college served more than 30,000 students across the Rio Grande Valley and employed more than 2,200 faculty and staff. With six state-of-the-art campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties, including a virtual campus, STC offers certificates, associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees in more than 131 programs.
According to UT, in the fall of 2026, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley enrolled 36,466 students, making it the ninth-largest university in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest (student enrollment) academic institution in the University of Texas system.
