Wisevoter
El Paso

UTEP Opens Applications for Loya Engineering Scholarship

The four-year scholarship covers full cost of attendance for incoming engineering students, funded by a $30 million gift from alumnus Miguel A. Loya.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Scholarships

Sand-colored brick academic building in a wide desert landscape with a distant mountain ridge and a lone saguaro cactus under golden light.
The University of Texas at El Paso opened applications for a four-year engineering scholarship covering full cost of attendance, funded by a $30 million gift from alumnus Miguel A. Loya. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you encourage a high school senior to pursue an engineering degree with a full scholarship?

The University of Texas at El Paso announced applications for the Miguel A. Loya Scholarship Program, a four-year engineering scholarship covering incoming students' full cost of attendance. The program was endowed by Loya's $30 million gift, the largest in UTEP history.

Why it matters

The scholarship targets high school seniors planning to study engineering at UTEP, offering a monthly stipend and a bonus for top graduates. For El Paso families, it reduces the cost barrier to a four-year engineering degree at the local public university.

The scholarship covers full cost of attendance for four years and provides a $1,000 monthly stipend, with a bonus of up to $30,000 for top graduates with highest honors. The first cohort will include 10 students enrolling in fall 2027.

The players

University of Texas at El Paso

A public research university in El Paso, Texas, which named its College of Engineering after Miguel A. Loya and administers the scholarship.

Miguel A. Loya

A UTEP alumnus who earned a mechanical engineering degree in 1977 and whose $30 million gift funds the scholarship program.

The details

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and high school seniors planning to major in engineering and enroll at UTEP full time. Applications are submitted through the ScholarMine portal on UTEP's website, and top applicants will be interviewed.

Timeline

  1. Miguel A. Loya earned his mechanical engineering degree from UTEP in 1977.

  2. In February 2026, Loya endowed the program with a $30 million gift.

  3. Applications were announced November 9, 2026, with a deadline of January 31, 2027.

  4. The first cohort of 10 Loya Scholars is scheduled to enroll in fall 2027.

Season Trajectory

This gift sets a new benchmark as the largest in UTEP's history, marking a significant philanthropic milestone for the institution. It places a dedicated engineering scholarship at the center of the university's recruitment and alumni-giving efforts.

High school seniors planning to study engineering in El Paso should note the January 31, 2027 deadline and prepare for the interview process. The scholarship's four-year coverage and monthly stipend can meaningfully offset tuition and living costs for qualifying students.

The takeaway

Students interested in engineering at UTEP should track the ScholarMine portal and prepare early for the application and interview. Demonstrating full-time enrollment intent and engineering focus will be central to applying successfully.

What happens next

The application deadline is January 31, 2027, and the first cohort of Loya Scholars is scheduled to enroll at UTEP in fall 2027.

Further reading

Explore more Scholarships coverage to compare how similar programs support students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields.

Live Poll

Would you encourage a high school senior to pursue an engineering degree with a full scholarship?