The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of The University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin is Texas's answer to Berkeley — a large elite public with distinctive programs, an unusually structured admissions process, and a value case that leans heavily on in-state tuition. A $19,857 average net price and $75,121 median earnings produce a 1.1-year payback and an 84/100 value score, comparable to strong flagships nationally.
The admissions dynamic is worth understanding before applying. Texas state law grants automatic admission to UT Austin for students in roughly the top 6% of their Texas high school graduating class. That formula fills a large share of each incoming class, and holistic-review admissions for the remaining slots is meaningfully more selective than the headline 26.6% acceptance rate suggests. For specific competitive majors — McCombs Business and Computer Science in particular — the effective admit rate is well below the university average.
Program strengths are concentrated: McCombs School of Business is the top undergraduate business program in the state and cross-competitive with Michigan-Ross, Cockrell School of Engineering is nationally strong, and Moody College of Communication is well-regarded. Median debt of $20,500 is on the higher side; large-scale publics with meaningful OOS enrollment tend to run elevated.
Bottom line: Texas residents targeting business, engineering, or the sciences should apply here as a top choice — for many, McCombs or Cockrell is the strongest available financial pick in the state. Out-of-state applicants pay closer to $40,000 net and the value case narrows sharply — apply OOS only if the program (McCombs, Cockrell, or a specific research target) is genuinely worth the premium.
The University of Texas at Austin at a Glance
The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,864 students as of fall 2024, it is also the largest institution in the system.
1883
143 years old
$20.9B
$20.85 billion ( FY 2024) (UT Austin only) $47.47 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
53,864
43,165 undergrad · 10,699 grad
4,011
431 acres
Identity
How to Apply to The University of Texas at Austin
Official admissions pageOctober 15 (Early Action)
$75
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is The University of Texas at Austin Worth It?
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $19,857/year net price and $75,121 median earnings, graduates earn 3.8× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 88% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 27% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Bottom line: The University of Texas at Austin delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How The University of Texas at Austin compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #7 of 9 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 100 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| #2 | University of California-Irvine | 100 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| #3 | University of California-San Diego | 100 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| #4 | Florida State University | 100 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| #5 | University of Florida | 100 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| #6 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 98 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| #7 | The University of Texas at Austin | 84 | $19,857 | $75,121 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The University of Texas at Austin's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at The University of Texas at Austin
The highest-earning program at The University of Texas at Austin is Chemical Engineering at $78,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Visual and Performing Arts, General at $21,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Chemical Engineering graduate from The University of Texas at Austin earns $78,400, while a Visual and Performing Arts, General graduate earns $21,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Chemical Engineering graduates carry $19,154 in median debt vs. $23,178 for Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,857/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $78,400 | $78,400 | $19,154 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $77,300 | $77,300 | $20,190 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $76,300 | $76,300 | $22,266 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $76,200 | $76,200 | $20,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,300 | $70,300 | $21,762 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $70,000 | $70,000 | $18,813 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $66,800 | $66,800 | $16,750 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $65,500 | $65,500 | $23,260 |
| Architectural Engineering | $65,200 | $65,200 | $22,258 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $63,600 | $63,600 | $19,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,500 | $61,500 | $19,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $60,900 | $60,900 | $23,952 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,900 | $57,900 | $19,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $54,400 | $54,400 | $18,070 |
| Economics | $52,200 | $52,200 | $20,500 |
| Mathematics | $50,700 | $50,700 | $20,956 |
| Architecture | $49,900 | $49,900 | $21,399 |
| Marketing | $49,900 | $49,900 | $20,006 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $44,400 | $44,400 | $18,047 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $44,400 | $44,400 | $25,786 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $43,800 | $43,800 | $22,250 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $41,000 | $41,000 | $19,930 |
| Physics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $22,750 |
| Chemistry | $38,100 | $38,100 | $22,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $37,600 | $37,600 | $22,130 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $37,200 | $37,200 | $22,217 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,100 | $37,100 | $20,867 |
| Sociology | $36,600 | $36,600 | $22,621 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $36,500 | $36,500 | $21,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $36,200 | $36,200 | $21,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $35,900 | $35,900 | $20,028 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $35,500 | $35,500 | $20,992 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $34,300 | $34,300 | $22,375 |
| Journalism | $34,000 | $34,000 | $22,386 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $33,000 | $33,000 | $20,500 |
| Public Health | $32,100 | $32,100 | $20,500 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $31,800 | $31,800 | $21,435 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $31,700 | $31,700 | $21,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $30,400 | $30,400 | $23,250 |
| Philosophy | $30,300 | $30,300 | $24,258 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $30,300 | $30,300 | $19,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $30,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,900 | $29,900 | $20,750 |
| Social Work | $29,900 | $29,900 | $17,500 |
| Music | $29,800 | $29,800 | $26,495 |
| Psychology, General | $29,700 | $29,700 | $19,486 |
| Area Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $21,500 |
| Biology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $20,999 |
| History | $27,100 | $27,100 | $20,000 |
| Anthropology | $25,500 | $25,500 | $22,375 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,900 | $24,900 | $23,022 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $24,500 | $24,500 | $23,056 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $21,900 | $21,900 | $23,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $21,900 | $21,900 | $23,178 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Student Body
- 42,855 students
- Admission Rate
- 27%
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,857
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $75,121
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500