The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) is a state university located in Edinburg, Texas. Founded in 1927, it is a component institution of the University of Texas System. The university serves the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas with baccalaureate, masters-level, and doctoral degrees. The Carnegie Foundation classifies UTPA as a "doctoral research university". Since the institution's founding, it has grown from 200 students to over 20,000, making UTPA the tenth-largest university in the state of Texas. The majority of these students are natives of the Rio Grande Valley. UTPA also operates an Upper Level Studies Center in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas.