The University of Texas at Arlington broke ground on Thursday on a new campus located on the western edge of Fort Worth.
This new campus, UTA West, is on a 51-acre lot near the intersections of Interstates 20 and 30. According to a university press release, this location will help the campus become a “key educational and research hub for the expanding North Texas economy. “
UTA plans to open an office at the new location this spring in Willow Park, where potential students and their families can learn about the different resources, including admissions, advising, financial services, and more.
UTA President Jennifer Cowley called Fort Worth the “second-fastest-growing major city in the country” and said the area surrounding the campus is “growing fast, and so is the need for access to a top-tier university.”
“We know the people of Fort Worth and Parker County want a national research university to provide workforce development and R&D support to area businesses—and to keep their great students close by,” she added in the news release.
The university added that the new campus will “feature cutting-edge academic and research facilities that will bring together students, faculty and industry leaders to drive innovation and workforce development.”
UTA West is expected to welcome its inaugural freshman class in the fall of 2028. The campus is designed to accommodate future growth as the university and surrounding communities continue to expand.
UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken intended to be present at the groundbreaking but could not attend due to weather, instead writing a statement to thank Fort Worth for the continued partnership.
“At its founding, Fort Worth sat on the physical frontier of a fast-growing young state and country, and today it stands as an epicenter of economic development and prosperity. We are honored to have UT Arlington play a leadership role in opening new fields of opportunity and development of the region,” Milliken wrote, per UTA.