degree programs to nearly 30,000 students. It’s the second-largest component in the University of Texas system, and has been one of the state’s fastest-growing public universities for much of the last decade.
University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio www.uthscsa.edu
Another top learning center in San Antonio is the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC). Each year over 3,000 students are trained at its more than 100 affiliated clinics, hospitals and health care facilities located in South Texas. They include the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, Dental School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Last year the University Health System broke ground on the first of many construction projects that will transform its two largest campuses during a five-year, $899 million capital improvement program.
Alamo Community Colleges www.alamo.edu
Five colleges comprise the Alamo Community Colleges in Bexar County: Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, St. Philip’s College and Northeast Lakeview College. Collectively they educate nearly 60,000 students. The schools offer associate degrees, certificates and licensures in occupational programs that prepare students for jobs, as well as arts and science courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities (and lead to A.A. and A.S. degrees). The Alamo system is a national model for building a pipeline of workers with knowledge and skills for today’s labor market.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio www.tamuk.edu/sanantonio
An exciting development is the opening of the new campus of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, operating as a system center under the Kingsville banner. This public school currently serves 3,500 students from a temporary location in town, but come this fall it will move operations to the first of many buildings to be constructed on 700 acres in south San Antonio. The university offers upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as education, business, arts and sciences, history, sociology, and kinesiology. Enrollment is projected to top 25,000 by 2025.
Trinity University www.trinity.edu
Trinity University, founded in 1869, is one of the nation’s top private universities. It educates 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students from 45 states and 64 countries and offers 39 majors and 52 minors. The school is renowned for its rigorous academics, distinguished faculty and superior facilities. For 18 consecutive years U.S. News and World Report has listed Trinity University with a No. 1 ranking in their “America’s Best Colleges” guide.
St. Mary’s University www.stmarytx.edu
St. Mary’s University is a Catholic school with more than 4,100 students, five schools, nearly 50 academic programs and numerous preprofessional programs. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school No. 19 in the West for academic reputation in 2010. (That recognition represents the 17th consecutive year the university has placed in the
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greater san antonio chamber of commerce