Midland’s Institutes of Higher Learning

Midland, Texas is home to several high quality colleges and universities that serve both the local community as well as students from across Texas and other states. Roughly 20,000 students are enrolled across Midland’s institutes of higher learning each year.

The city’s history as a center for the oil and gas industry has helped shape academic programming available to students, with an emphasis on energy-related fields of study. However, Midland’s colleges and universities offer diverse array of academic disciplines, ensuring students have access to education that aligns with their interests and career aspirations.

Midland College

Midland College is a public community college located in northeast Midland that offers associate’s degrees and certificate programs. With over 5,000 students enrolled annually, Midland College is the city’s largest institute of higher education.

History

Midland College was established in 1972 as Midland Community College, reflecting the school’s origins as a two-year community college aimed at supporting the local workforce. As the school expanded its programming over the next few decades, “Community” was dropped from the name in 1987.

Midland College has expanded its campus over time to keep up with rising enrollment, including the Davidson Family Health Sciences Building that opened in 2010, the 57,000 square foot Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center that opened in 2011, and the 82,000 square foot McCormick P. Fanali Energy Technology Building in 2021.

Academics

Midland College offers associate’s degrees and certificates across more than 10 academic disciplines, including:

• Arts and Sciences
• Business Administration
• Computer and Information Technology
• Health Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physical Education and Kinesiology

Many of these programs are designed to allow students to smoothly transfer into four-year degree programs at universities after completing their Midland College degree. Given Midland’s prominence in oil and gas, Midland College has extensive programming related to energy and petroleum studies:

• Petroleum Professional Development Certificate
• Petroleum Technology Associate’s Degree
• Geoscience Technician Certificate

The school also has associate’s degrees tailored to key local industries like Aviation Maintenance Technology and Occupational Safety Compliance Technology.

Notable Features

• The McCormick P. Fanali Energy Technology Center is one of the premier energy education facilities in the region, offering cutting edge technology and ample space for labs/collaborative projects. It cements Midland College as a leader in energy education locally and nationally.
• Midland College has transfer partnerships with several universities across Texas that create seamless pathways for Midland students to transfer into four-year programs. This includes partnerships with University of Texas Permian Basin, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, and more.
• A robust adult education program offers GED preparation and high school equivalency for non-traditional students. The program also provides English as a Second Language (ESL) education.
• As a Hispanic Serving Institution, at least 25% of Midland College students identify as Hispanic. The school has extensive programming and student support services focused on Latino/a students.

University of Texas Permian Basin

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) is a public university located in Odessa, about 25 minutes drive west from Midland along Interstate 20. However, UTPB serves as the primary 4-year university option for Midland residents.

History

UTPB’s history is intertwined with the early development of the Permian Basin oil reserves. In 1969, the University of Texas opened a graduate center in Odessa focused on providing education opportunities aligned with the region’s oil and gas industry. This graduate institution evolved into a full-scale university, joining The University of Texas System as The University of Texas Permian Basin in 1973.

The campus features buildings named after prominent early oil executives such as J. Conrad Dunagan, R.B. Cowden, and George H.W. Bush. This nods to the critical role petroleum industry leaders played in establishing UTPB as Permian Basin’s public university.

Academics

UTPB offers over 50 bachelor’s degrees across a range of disciplines:

• Petroleum Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Biology
• Communications
• Criminal Justice

The university also has 25 master’s degrees, reflecting its heritage as a graduate institution. Unsurprisingly given Midland’s economic dependence on fossil fuel extraction, UTPB’s engineering and geosciences programs as especially well-regarded. Specific areas of excellence include:

• Petroleum Engineering – UTPB’s undergraduate and graduate petroleum engineering programs are considered some of the best in the region. Students benefit from the proximity to Permian Basin oil fields.
• Mechanical Engineering – Prepares students to tackle complex challenges in energy sector manufacturing and operations.
• Geosciences – Offers key geological/geophysical training relevant to the exploitation of Permian Basin oil reserves.

Notable Features

• As a member of the larger University of Texas System, UTPB students can access resources from across one of the nation’s largest university networks. This includes the University of Texas Library System and access to Austin’s many cultural institutions.
• Small class sizes, with a 14:1 student to faculty ratio, ensure students get individualized attention from professors.
• Offering the only mechanical engineering degree in the Permian Basin makes UTPB an crucially important talent pipeline for energy companies operating in region.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is Midland’s medical school, training tomorrow’s healthcare professionals with an emphasis on serving West Texas’ vast rural communities.

History

The Medical School was established in 1969 as the Texas Tech University School of Medicine, founded in Lubbock, TX. In 1979, a Permian Basin campus was opened in Odessa, TX – only 30 minutes outside of Midland. This regional campus enabled Texas Tech medical students specific opportunities for clinical training in Midland’s healthcare facilities.

In 1999, the Odessa campus was formally designated the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, paving the way for expansion beyond just medical school education. This has included buildout of additional Texas Tech health professions programming in Midland such as nursing, biomedical sciences, and more over the past two decades.

Academics

Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Midland offers degree paths focused training health professionals:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) – 4 year medical school equipping students for any medical specialty residency. Includes specific coursework/training placements aimed at rural community health.
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) – 4 year doctoral program producing pharmacy graduates to support West Texas’ medication needs.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – 4 year undergrad nursing program. Specially designed for students wishing to become Registered Nurses in rural hospital settings.
• Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT degree) – Prepares certified Occupational Therapists to assist patients with injury recovery/rehabilitation using activities of daily living.
• Biomedical Sciences – 2 year master’s program focused on rural and population health research. Feeds talent pipeline into other Texas Tech health graduate programs.

Notable Features

• The F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health is Texas Tech’s hub for engaging rural healthcare delivery across West Texas. Midland and Odessa offer ample opportunities for students participate in research and community health activation initiatives.
• Texas Tech adds over $100 million annually to the Permian Basin economy. Beyond educating medical professionals, it serves as major employer and economic engine.
• Texas Tech recruits students from rural counties across West Texas to its health professions programs. This regional focus aims to incentivize graduates to set up practice in the remote small towns they grew up in.

Midland is clearly home to wide ranging higher education opportunities – from community college credentials to advanced health science doctorates. Students can find programming aligned to almost any area of academic or professional interest without needing to leave Midland city limits!

With oil industry innovation continuing apace and investments in new facilities, Midland’s education institutions seem poised to expand even further in coming years. Those seeking a college degree would do well to give Midland’s institutes of higher learning a close look.