UTSA is the state's latest university to attain the distinctive Tier One status. The designation qualifies UTSA for access to six-million state research dollars over the next two-years to help the school attract prominent scholars and improve its research initiatives. The state's National Research University Fund was created in 2009. UTSA is the fifth public university to qualify for the program, following UT Arlington, Texas Tech, the University of Houston, and UT Dallas.