The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas · Public · 26.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 90/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UT Austin is the flagship public university of Texas - 42,855 students, an ROI score of 90, and median 10-year earnings of $75,121. This is an Exceptional Value school at public tuition rates, a rare combination. The admissions rate sits at 26.6%, making it genuinely selective for a public institution. Completion rate is 88.9%. Top programs by earnings include Computer and Information Sciences, where graduates earn a median $155,168 at 10 years, and Electrical Engineering at $146,003. The engineering college consistently sends graduates into high-demand roles in Austin's tech corridor, the defense sector, and petrochemical industries statewide. On the other hand, programs like Radio, Television, and Digital Communication show 4-year earnings of only $52,860 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.798 - students in those programs need a clear career plan before enrolling. Overall, UT Austin delivers elite earning potential at a price that's hard to replicate outside the public system.
The University of Texas at Austin scores in the top 5% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
The University of Texas at Austin
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,688/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,908/yr |
| Average net price | $19,857/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,121 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $52,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 88.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 42,855 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,688/year ($44,908/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $19,857/year, or roughly $79,428 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,553/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,082/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($52,200) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,553 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,297 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,207 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,406 |
| $110,001+ | $30,082 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $12,553 per year at UT Austin. Combined with median debt of $20,500 and 10-year earnings above $75,000, this is a strong deal.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $14,297 per year; those in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay $17,207. The jump from $14,297 to $24,406 for the $75,001-$110,000 bracket is steeper - nearly $10,000 more per year. Middle-income families in the upper tier of this range should model total cost carefully, as net price approaches $100k over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $30,082 per year - about $120,000 over four years. Against median 10-year earnings of $75,121, that's still a defensible investment, especially for engineering or business majors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.393 overall is well below the danger zone. High-income families choosing out-of-state enrollment at UT face a different calculus since out-of-state tuition is $44,908 and net price rises accordingly.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The University of Texas at Austin with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $66,264 | C |
| Psychology | $56,821 | C |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $80,221 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $155,168 | A |
| Finance and Financial Management | $132,075 | B+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $146,003 | A |
| International Relations | $75,988 | C+ |
| Public Health | $61,390 | C |
| Mathematics | $88,434 | B+ |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $64,145 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
This CS program has 470 graduates per year. Median earnings reach $111,587 within one year and $155,168 at year four - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.184 (grade: A). Median debt is only $20,500 against those earnings. Students choosing this path get flagship-level credentials at public-school cost.
Electrical Engineering
342 graduates per year and median 1-year earnings of $96,997 rising to $146,003 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.211 (grade: A). Texas's energy sector, defense contractors in San Antonio, and Austin's semiconductor cluster all absorb UT electrical engineering graduates in significant numbers.
Finance and Financial Management
434 graduates per year with 1-year median earnings of $81,844 and 4-year earnings of $132,075. Debt-to-earnings of 0.25 (grade: B+). McCombs School of Business carries significant brand recognition in Texas banking, private equity, and energy finance. Houston's energy finance corridor and Dallas's financial services sector recruit heavily from UT. The size of the graduating class combined with employer demand produces strong placement rates. This is not the highest-earning business path at UT, but the scale of the program and the employer network make it a solid choice.
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
487 graduates - the second-largest program at UT - with 1-year earnings of $47,972 and 4-year earnings of $80,221. Debt-to-earnings is 0.438 (grade: B). The Moody College of Communication has national name recognition for its advertising and PR programs, but $80,221 at year four against $20,995 in median debt means this path requires patience. Starting salaries in the mid-$40s are realistic for brand-side marketing, agency account management, and media roles. The UT brand helps graduates land interviews. Students should enter with realistic entry-level salary expectations.
Mechanical Engineering
275 graduates per year with 1-year earnings of $82,227 and 4-year earnings of $104,523. Debt-to-earnings 0.228 (grade: A). Mechanical engineering at UT feeds into oil and gas equipment firms, aerospace manufacturers, automotive suppliers, and advanced manufacturing. The Austin-San Antonio corridor has significant manufacturing and defense presence.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Texas at Austin’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 26.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-33 |
| Enrollment | 42,855 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,819 |
UT Austin admitted 26.6% of applicants. SAT math runs 620-770 and reading 630-740; ACT composite 27-33. The school uses holistic review with an automatic admission guarantee for top-ranked Texas high school graduates. Out-of-state applicants face a much higher bar and should compare net price carefully since out-of-state tuition jumps to $44,908.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UT Austin's completion rate is 89%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Austin (this school) | 90 | $19,857 | $75,121 |
| University of California-San Diego | 96 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| University of California-Irvine | 94 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| University of Florida | 92 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See The University of Texas at Austin side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UT Austin fits high-achieving Texas residents who know their major direction. Admitted students typically score ACT 27-33 or SAT 1250-1510 combined. The Pell grant rate of 25.9% reflects meaningful economic diversity for a selective school. Students thrive here if they're targeting engineering, computer science, business, or pre-law - programs where UT Austin's alumni networks and Austin-based employers create a direct pipeline. Students who arrive undecided and drift into lower-earning majors will face a harder ROI math with $20,500 median debt.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether The University of Texas at Austin is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $79,428 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $75,121 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.5 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 88.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $52,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
The University of Texas at Austin: Common Questions
Is The University of Texas at Austin worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students The University of Texas at Austin pays off. It scores 90/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $19,857 a year after aid ($79,428 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $75,121 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.5 years to earn back.
How much does The University of Texas at Austin cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,857 a year, or roughly $79,428 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The University of Texas at Austin graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $75,121 ten years after enrolling, roughly $33,321 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off The University of Texas at Austin?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.5 years for The University of Texas at Austin. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of Texas at Austin graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $52,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Texas at Austin?
The six-year graduation rate is 88.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.