UT Arlington expands west to Parker County
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UTA officials say UTA West will offer an idyllic setting for learning. Rendering: Courtesy of UT Arlington
UT Arlington is expanding to Parker County in 2028 with a new campus in far-west Fort Worth.
Why it matters: There aren't many options to pursue higher education in rural areas of North Texas, a gap that UT Arlington hopes to address with its UTA West campus.
Context: Parker County is located just west of Tarrant County and includes parts of Fort Worth.
- Weatherford College is the only college in the fast-growing county, with a population of roughly 180,000.
- Tarleton State University's campus on the Tarrant County side of Fort Worth also serves Parker and Johnson counties.
State of play: The UTA West campus will be located near Aledo, close to where I-30 and I-20 meet.
- The 51-acre site features rolling hills with wildflowers, live oak trees and a small lake.
- The campus will focus on high-demand fields, hoping to supply a "highly skilled homegrown workforce" for the region, per a news release.
- Construction has started, with plans to open in fall 2028.
Zoom out: Fort Worth's growing population — the city recently surpassed 1 million residents — and diversifying economy have made the city a popular destination for university expansions.
- UT Arlington has a research institute in east Fort Worth and a center in downtown Fort Worth. UNT Health Fort Worth's six schools are located in the city's cultural district.
- And Texas A&M plans to open a law and education building in downtown Fort Worth this fall.
What they're saying: "Great universities reach their highest purpose when they grow alongside the communities they serve," UTA president Jennifer Cowley said in a news release.