San Antonio emerging as a national research hub
Writer: Andrea Teran
June 2025 — The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has approved the formal merger of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and UT Health San Antonio, clearing a major hurdle in the creation of a new, consolidated research university poised to redefine higher education in the region.
The merger brings together two Carnegie R1 institutions — each with more than $150 million in annual research expenditures and robust doctoral pipelines — forming a single academic enterprise with over 40,000 students, 17,000 faculty and staff, and more than 350 academic programs. Formal accreditation is expected to be affirmed by June 2026 following a site visit and addressing any follow-up items in the spring of next year.
“This milestone is an important part of our journey,” stated UTSA President and UT Health San Antonio Acting President Taylor Eighmy in a message sent via email to all faculty, staff, and students. “It marks a significant step forward in our integration and a powerful endorsement of our bold and visionary path.”
At the system level, The University of Texas institutions collectively invested $4.3 billion in research in FY 2023, up 10% from the previous year, ranking second in the nation for higher education research spending. UT Health San Antonio remains a major contributor, while UTSA set a new institutional record with $152 million in research expenditures. This collective strength underscores the significance of the UTSA–UT Health merger in positioning San Antonio as a national center for biomedical innovation, cybersecurity, and applied sciences.
The merger elevates San Antonio into an elite category nationally. Texas now leads the United States with 16 R1 universities, surpassing California and New York, according to the latest Carnegie Foundation rankings. UT Health San Antonio is among the latest to earn the distinction, reflecting steady increases in research activity and graduate output.
“Bioscience is the largest industry in San Antonio, and continues to grow,” said Rene Dominguez, president of VelocityTX to Invest:. “The city is home to several well-known and world-renowned research assets, and is well-positioned to be a nationwide leader in bioscience education with the recent merger announcement between UTSA and UT Health San Antonio.”
The timing of the merger also underscores the complex challenges facing higher education locally, particularly around college readiness and degree completion.
Newly released STAAR End-of-Course exam results reveal troubling gaps among San Antonio’s largest school districts. North East and Northside ISDs outperformed the state average, but San Antonio ISD scored below state benchmarks in every tested subject, with only 49% of students passing English I and 67% passing Algebra I.
These figures speak to a broader struggle: despite modest gains in enrollment at UTSA and Texas A&M–San Antonio, the region continues to lag in degree attainment. Just 29% of San Antonio adults have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 35% nationally.
In response, local leaders are investing in upstream interventions. The City of San Antonio’s Higher Education Student Advisory Board is conducting a survey to understand why students drop out, while workforce programs like Ready to Work are helping residents pursue training and credentials aligned with in-demand jobs. UTSA has also partnered with SAISD and plans to expand to additional districts to guarantee early admission for high-achieving juniors, removing procedural barriers and increasing enrollment confidence.
“We’re focusing on several major sectors in San Antonio, starting with the consolidation of UT Health and UTSA,” said San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh in a recent interview with Invest:. “This initiative not only adds value to the state system but also strengthens our local biomedical, research, and medical industries, which remain a key focus for us.”
Yet this moment of institutional strength comes amid new headwinds. Earlier this month, Texas ended a 24-year-old policy allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition, a decision that could shrink local enrollment and hurt workforce pipelines. According to the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the move could cost the state over $460 million annually in lost wages and spending.
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