For the thousands of students who commute to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) daily, the walk from the Sun Bowl parking garage is getting increasingly expensive before they even step onto campus.<\/p>\n
As of early April 2026, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in El Paso has reached\u202f$4.08. According to\u202fthe American Automobilbe Association of Texas (AAA Texas), this figure is the highest among the 27 largest metropolitan areas in the state. Since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28, local prices have skyrocketed from an average of\u202f$3.12\u202fper gallon to a 31% increase\u202fin just over a month.<\/p>\n
The rapid spike is directly tied to the geography of the ongoing war. The\u202fStrait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that handles approximately 20% of the world\u2019s total oil consumption, is currently the center of a global supply disruption.<\/p>\n
When conflict threatens this primary transit chokepoint, global crude prices surge instantly. International oil prices have climbed significantly since the war began, and these fluctuations trickle down to local stations in the Borderland faster than in many other Texas regions.<\/p>\n
The impact isn\u2018t limited to passenger vehicles. The cost of diesel has topped\u202f$5.39\u202fper gallon in El Paso.<\/p>\n
Because almost all food in the region arrives via\u202flong-haul trucking, these increased transportation costs are being passed directly to consumers through rising grocery bills as\u202fshipping surcharges\u202fare added to produce and household staples.<\/p>\n
At UTEP, a campus that recently saw a\u202frecord spring enrollment of nearly 25,000 students, the financial strain is creating a \u201ccommuter tax\u201d on education.<\/p>\n
Gilberto Sandat, a senior computer science major, described the trend as \u201ccrazy high.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore is going to gas than it used to, like 20 [dollars] more,\u201d Sandat said.<\/p>\n
For freshman engineering major Saul Galvan, the shift has changed his weekly budget.<\/p>\n
Galvan recalled that at the beginning of the semester, he would spend between $21 to $23 for a full tank of gas. With the rising costs, his total has gone up to $40.<\/p>\n
While he described the situation as \u201cpretty ridiculous,\u201d he expressed a sensible view of how events in the Middle East affect the U.S.<\/p>\n
While global geopolitics remain out of local control,\u202fAAA Texas\u202fsuggests several ways for drivers to stretch their fuel.<\/p>\n
Reducing highway speeds from 75 mph to 65 mph can improve fuel economy by up to 15% while removing unnecessary weight from a vehicle can further decrease consumption.<\/p>\n
Maintaining\u202fproperly inflated tires\u202fcan increase efficiency by up to 3% and avoiding long periods of idling prevents unnecessary fuel burn.<\/p>\n
Additionally, using digital tools like the AAA Mobile App or GasBuddy can help students find the lowest prices along their specific commute rather than settling for the nearest station.<\/p>\n
As the Iran conflict continues, the national average for regular gas has officially\u202fexceeded $4.10 per gallon\u202ffor the first time in years.<\/p>\n
For the UTEP community, the road to graduation is becoming more expensive by the mile.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Adrian Gonzalez Jr. is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at\u202f[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
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