In 1914 it was founded as The Texas State School of Miners and Metallurgy. In the mid-1950s, it was called Texas Western College and it became the first college in a Southern state to integrate its intercollegiate athletic teams. It has evolved into a major public research institution. By 1967, the Board of Regents authorized that the name of the college be changed from Texas Western College to its present name. UTEP is a member of the University of Texas System and the largest university in the nation with a majority Mexican-American student population. UTEP is subdivided into several colleges. These colleges are: College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering, University College and College of Health Science.

UTEP is an important institution on the U.S. - Mexico border. It is the second oldest academic component of the University of Texas system. UTEP's six colleges offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. The University of Texas at El Paso is in conjunction with the UT TeleCampus. UTEP participates with various online degrees that can be earned within the University of Texas System. Also UTEP offers some degrees and certificates program that can be earned through online education.

The university is accredited through the doctoral level by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, and various specialized programs are accredited by the appropriate agencies in the component colleges.