Address: 110 Inner Campus Drive, 78705 Austin, Texas, United States
Engineering, Computer Science, Communication
Founded in 1883, UT Austin is a major public research university and the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. It is a leading center for research in engineering, computer science, communication, business, and energy.
The University of Texas at Austin opened in 1883 on a site of forty acres near the state capitol, which still gives its main grounds the name of the Forty Acres. Its flagship status in the University of Texas System and a large endowment based on oil and gas lands in West Texas, the Permanent University Fund, gave it resources to grow. It has about 52,400 students and 10,100 staff, and the Tower, completed in 1937, is a landmark that lights up in burnt orange after victories.
The university is organised in more than a dozen colleges and schools. The Cockrell School of Engineering, the McCombs School of Business, the Moody College of Communication, the Jackson School of Geosciences, the School of Law, the Dell Medical School and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs are the best known. The LBJ Presidential Library, on the campus, holds the papers of the president who signed major civil rights and education laws.
The Harry Ransom Center is a leading archive of literature and the arts, and it holds a Gutenberg Bible and the world’s oldest surviving photograph, taken by Nicephore Niepce. The Texas Advanced Computing Center runs large supercomputers for researchers across the country. The McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains in West Texas is run by the university and used for astronomy. Michael Dell began his company in a dormitory room while enrolled as a student.
The Longhorns compete in the Big 12 Conference until recent changes and now in the Southeastern Conference, with football at Darrell K Royal Stadium as a major event in the city. Admission to the flagship has an automatic path for top graduates of Texas high schools. Tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English.
Austin is known for live music and for its technology industry, and student housing is spread across West Campus and the surrounding districts.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Geotechnics, Life Sciences, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship of UT System. Strong ties with tech industry in Austin (“Silicon Hills”), energy sector (oil and gas), and NASA. Member of Association of American Universities. McDonald Observatory is a key research facility.
Research:
A top public research university with strengths in engineering (petroleum, chemical, civil, aerospace), computer science (AI, robotics), communication, energy resources, natural sciences, and business. High research expenditure.
Famous Alumnis:
Michael Dell, Matthew McConaughey, Laura Bush, Neil deGrasse Tyson (MA), Walter Cronkite, Kevin Durant, Renée Zellweger
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
10100
Current students***:
52400
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
505000
Pros
Leading public research university in Texas, strong engineering and computer science programs, vibrant and growing city of Austin, large and diverse campus, excellent business school (McCombs).
Cons
Very large student population, can be bureaucratic, some undergraduate classes are very large, Austin cost of living is increasing.
Best For
Students seeking a top-tier public education and research opportunities, particularly in engineering, computer science, or communication, in a dynamic, culturally rich, and growing city.
The comparison with Texas A&M University is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on geotechnics, life sciences and AI and machine learning, and it is slightly larger, at about 74,500 students against roughly 52,400 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, University of Texas at Arlington and this institution are close, as both teach life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
Among national alternatives, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign stands out for its focus on life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and it covers agriculture and materials as well, and has almost the same size, at about 57,200 students.
Another national school that puts life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning at the centre is University of Washington, and it covers marine science and bioengineering as well, and is slightly larger, at about 60,500 students against roughly 52,400 here.
Think of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor when life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning is the priority: it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and covers mechanical engineering and materials as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Students considering a move abroad can look at University of Calgary in Canada, where geotechnics, life sciences and data analytics also form the core, and it is also a public institution and also offers certificate and diploma programmes.
University of Bristol, in the United Kingdom, takes a similar route through life sciences, AI and machine learning and software engineering; it does not run the mba programmes found here and covers aerospace and chemistry as well.
Anglia Ruskin University, in the United Kingdom, takes a similar route through telecommunications, life sciences and data analytics; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
Looking internationally, McGill University in Canada is where life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning get a comparable treatment; it also offers graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes and covers ecology and sustainability and physics as well.
Shenzhen University in China is the nearest foreign match on life sciences, data analytics and software engineering; it covers marine science and optics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 48,865 students.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is UT Austin?
In Austin, Texas, close to the state capitol.
When did it open?
In 1883, on a site of forty acres known as the Forty Acres.
How large is it?
About 52,400 students and 10,100 staff.
What is the Permanent University Fund?
An endowment based on oil and gas lands in West Texas that supports the University of Texas System.
What is the Tower?
A landmark completed in 1937 that lights up in burnt orange after victories.
What does the Harry Ransom Center hold?
A Gutenberg Bible and the world's oldest surviving photograph, by Nicephore Niepce.
What is the Texas Advanced Computing Center?
A facility that runs large supercomputers for researchers across the country.
What does the university run in West Texas?
The McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains.
Who started a company in a dormitory room there?
Michael Dell, while enrolled as a student.
What does it cost?
Tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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