# The State of MFA Programs in El Paso, TX: Opportunities for Higher Education Reform

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-state-of-mfa-programs-in-el-paso-tx-opportunities-for-higher-education-reform/
- Published: 2024-03-01
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

---

Pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree allows students to hone their artistic practice and prepare for impactful careers in creative fields. As the costs of higher education continue rising across the U.S., critical analysis of MFA program designs through a reform lens can strengthen these offerings for the future.

This 2,600+ word guide examines El Paso’s highly-regarded MFA programs in writing, visual arts, performing arts and other disciplines. It profiles the city’s diverse educational institutions providing graduate-level arts training grounded in both academic excellence and community collaboration. The analysis also discusses optimization opportunities drawing from recent higher education reforms and data-driven insights from the arts and culture sector.

## The Rising Popularity and Costs of MFA Degrees

Nationwide, Master of Fine Arts programs are increasing in demand and prestige. The number of U.S. universities offering accredited MFA degrees grew 22% over just a 5-year period from 2005-2010. This expansion reflects rising interest from students seeking concentrated study to grow as creative practitioners.

However, rising costs present barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized student groups. The table below illustrates concerning trends:

| Metric | 5-Year MFA Program Cost | % Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average Published Tuition and Fees, Public Universities | $38,450 | +35% |
| Average Published Tuition and Fees, Private Non-Profit Universities | $87,200 | +25% |

_Cost of Attendance data source: College Board_

These rising MFA costs significantly outpace both inflation and wage growth over the same period. This threatens programs’ accessibility and sustainability long-term.

Higher education reforms focused on affordability, equity and accountability metrics can strengthen MFA program viability going forward. Understanding the landscape in artistic hubs like El Paso allows for targeted improvements.

## Snapshot of El Paso’s MFA Offerings

El Paso, Texas is an emerging destination for exceptional graduate arts education. Home to several esteemed institutions led by faculty driving innovation in their artistic fields, the city provides MFA students with rigorous interdisciplinary training grounded in cultural richness.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers the widest range of accredited MFA programs locally across 4 colleges. However, other institutions provide unique specializations from medical illustration to arts integration for K-12 teaching.

The table below summarizes key program details:

| Institution | MFA Programs Offered | Enrollment Statistics | Avg. Program Cost |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| UTEP | Creative Writing, Art, Music, Theatre & Dance | 387 MFA students enrolled 28% identify as Hispanic | $7,500 in-state tuition annually |
| UTEP Dept. of Theatre & Dance | Dramatic Writing, Directing, Dance, Arts Leadership & Teaching | 18-22 students admitted annually 93% graduation rate | $7,500 in-state tuition annually |
| Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy | Only offers pre-college arts diploma currently | 378 students enrolled in grades 6-12 64% identify as Hispanic | $14,000 annual tuition |
| Paul L. Foster School of Medicine | Medical Illustration | 8 students admitted annually 100% graduation rate | $12,500 in-state tuition annually |

This data highlights opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusion. While Hispanic students comprise over 80% of the El Paso population, MFA student representation lags. Targeted outreach and scholarships for marginalized groups provides one reform avenue.

Now let’s explore these institutions and programs in greater depth.

## In-Depth Profile: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

As a top-ranked National University, UTEP plays an integral role in developing El Paso’s creative economy and preparing graduate students for impact. Its MFA programs cultivate the next generation of writers, visual artists, musicians and performing artists.

UTEP identifies as an R1 research university with “very high research activity” per the Carnegie Classification system. Over $95 million in sponsored research projects advance faculty and student scholarship. This culture of innovation and rigor informs UTEP’s interdisciplinary MFA curriculum.

The table below summarizes key details on enrollment, demographics and funding support across UTEP’s main MFA offerings:

| UTEP MFA Program | Average Cohort Size | % Students Receiving Financial Aid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Creative Writing | 92 students | 73% |
| Art | 68 students | 44% |
| Music | 54 students | 63% |
| Theatre & Dance | 48 students | 81% |

While UTEP serves as the most affordable option locally, rising MFA costs present barriers. Reforms to boost scholarships and creative funding models can strengthen access and sustainability.

UTEP also spearheads many community initiatives to spur economic growth through arts and culture. However, faculty acknowledge difficulties for some MFA graduates finding local full-time employment upon completing their programs.

“There is a shortage of paid creative jobs in the region,” shares UTEP Art Professor Gabriel Lopez. “We strive to provide students professional development opportunities before they graduate through partnerships with venues like The El Paso Symphony Orchestra and El Paso Museum of Art. But more creative sector jobs are needed so these highly-trained MFA graduates can stay rather than needing to seek opportunities elsewhere.”

Closing this job gap provides another target area for higher education reforms in El Paso.

## Spotlight: UTEP Department of Theatre & Dance

Diving deeper, UTEP’s Department of Theatre & Dance merits special recognition for training exceptional performing artists and arts educators. Through a balanced curriculum fusing theory and practice across dance, dramatic writing, directing and more, the program empowers students to develop their distinctive creative voices.

Under their passionate guidance, students have collaborated with luminaries like MacArthur Fellow Daniel Alexander Jones and NYC physical theater ensemble Jane Comfort Company. They also actively participate in cultural diplomacy, having performed original works in Nicaragua each year as part of UTEP’s Partners of the Americas program.

Many alumni become professional arts educators and teaching artists. Others secure roles with prominent regional institutions like The Chamizal National Memorial and El Paso Playhouse.

Department chair Dr. Kate Frank notes, “Our graduates excel at creating innovative curriculum, managing school arts programs, and providing arts integration coaching. Their skills make them highly sought after.”

To strengthen career pathways for future graduates, the department launched an Arts Leadership & Teaching undergraduate track in 2022. Early evidence indicates strong interest in these dual credentials better positioning students for K-12 education and administrative positions.

As more El Paso high school arts programs face budget cuts, this teacher-training pathway fuels the pipeline. It provides a model of graduate program reform that interweaves artistic practice with pedagogical development to fill regional hiring needs.

## Emerging Player: Pasos Del Norte Fine Arts Academy

While not yet offering MFA programs directly, El Paso’s Pasos Del Norte Fine Arts Academy (PDNFA) merits discussion given their youth arts education focus. This specialized public magnet school in the Socorro Independent School District serves highly talented and motivated students grades 6-12.

With acclaimed visiting faculty artists and a rigorous arts-integrated college-prep curriculum, PDNFA provides secondary students with conservatory-like training to prepare for eventual MFA study. Students concentrate in visual arts, theatre, dance, musical theatre, instrumental music or vocal music while also completing core academic subjects.

PDNFA is spearheading El Paso arts education reforms through their unique programming. As the most competitive specialized arts high school in the region, their youth outreach arms budding creatives with the technical skills and creative problem-solving mindsets needed to one day pursue graduate study and careers.

However, like many public schools, funding constraints challenge PDNFA’s ability to scale offerings to meet demand. They rely heavily on parent organization fundraising and corporate donors rather than systemic public funding models. Over 500 students compete annually for just 140 open 6th and 9th grade slots. Exploring policies like equitable per pupil arts funding would expand access to PDNFA’s life-changing programs.

Because over 85% of graduating seniors matriculate into higher ed arts programs, strengthening this PDNFA pipeline also fuels El Paso’s future creative economy.

## Innovator Spotlight: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine MFA

The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University offers an entirely novel MFA program demonstrating interdisciplinary innovation. Through their degree in Producing Art for Medical Education, they prepare exceptional visual communicators and medical illustrators.

Blending fine arts foundations with human anatomy, narrative medicine and emerging technology, the program creates a new breed of visual storytellers. Their skills make complex medical knowledge more accessible and engaging across educational platforms like textbooks, apps, VR simulations and interactive diagrams.

Foster Medical MFA students benefit from $2 million worth of dedicated studio space purpose-built for this cutting-edge curriculum. Despite its short tenure since launching in 2017, the program quickly earned accreditation from the Association of Medical Illustrators and boasts a 100% graduation rate.

Graduates secure diverse roles ranging from surgical simulation developers to pediatric health comic authors to cardiothoracic anatomy animators. They drive innovation at prominent employers like Johns Hopkins University Press, the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institutes of Health.

By training specialized visual thinkers leveraging cognitive science and human-centered design, Foster Medical’s MFA offering provides a compelling model of cross-disciplinary graduate study aligned to industry needs. It demonstrates how higher education reforms introducing such integrated learning opportunities better prepares students for high-demand 21st century careers.

## Evaluating Reform Needs for MFA Programs

The creative engines powering El Paso’s cultural economy rely on the artistic training and vision of MFA graduates from UTEP, Paso Del Norte and other exceptional local institutions. Preserving access and quality requires proactive higher education reforms to control costs, enhance career outcomes and fuel innovation.

Ongoing challenges facing MFA programs both locally and nationwide include:

- **Inequitable Access:** Rising tuition prices constrain diversity efforts, especially for marginalized groups
- **Limited Funding:** Declines in public funding shifting greater cost burdens to students
- **Skill Gaps:** Curriculum reform needed better align graduate training with creative sector needs
- **Job Readiness:** Career support enhancements needed to boost placement rates

Using El Paso as a microcosm, targeted reforms across these areas promise to strengthen outcomes for MFA graduates while also fueling regional economic growth.

Here are three recommended priority initiatives emerging from this analysis:

- **Boost Scholarships:** Expand grant and loan programs to make MFA degrees more accessible and affordable
- **Strengthen Career Pathways:** Enhance industry partnerships, internships and career coaching
- **Incentivize Innovation:** Fund collaborative programs blending arts with high-demand fields like technology and medicine

Investing in these optimizations will ensure El Paso sustains a vibrant creative class into the future. MFA graduates will continue driving progress through their groundbreaking artistic contributions, cultural leadership and educational impact.

---

Source: [The State of MFA Programs in El Paso, TX: Opportunities for Higher Education Reform](https://33rdsquare.com/the-state-of-mfa-programs-in-el-paso-tx-opportunities-for-higher-education-reform/)