University of Texas at Austin

Degree Programs at the University of Texas Austin

The University of Texas at Austin appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Visual Communications Degree Programs.

As the flagship school of the University of Texas System, the University of Texas at Austin offers a multitude of degrees for undergraduate and graduate students. The school consists of 17 colleges, each of which focuses on specific areas. These colleges are the Cockrell School of Engineering, the College of Education, the College of Fine Art, the College of Liberal Arts, the Jackson School of Geosciences and the School of Information, among others.

Students have their choice of practically any area of study they wish to pursue. The School of Design and Creative Technologies offers a B.S. in Arts and Entertainment Technologies or a BFA/BA in Design.  The B.S. in Arts and Entertainment Technologies (AET) can be earned with an emphasis on game design; digital visualization; projection, lighting, and interactivity; or music and sound. AET students can also choose a second major (such as computer science or business) or a minor like studio art or visual media.

Those interested in fine arts can earn degrees like the B.M. in Music Performance, the B.A. in Art History and B.F.A. in Dance. Students who seek a B.F.A. in Acting enter a four-year program in which they take general education classes along with degree-specific courses. Some of these are Performance as Public Practice, Acting Shakespeare, Theatre Production and Business of Acting. Students must audition to receive one of the 20 spots that are open in this program each year.

In addition to the 17 colleges, the University of Texas Austin has an extended campus and a graduate school. The graduate school works with the various colleges at the university to provide advanced learning to over 8,000 students. Students can earn terminal degrees in fields like architecture, finance, chemical engineering, anthropology, neuroscience and many more.

The extended campus provides programs that are focused on adult learners and professional development. Students can take individual classes or earn certificates. Most of these courses are available online only. Some of the possibilities for certificates include:

• Business Analysis
• Communication Skills for Professionals
• Strategic Communication
• Non-Profit Management
• Paralegal
• Data Analytics
• Financial Planning
• Personal Trainer

Students at the extended campus can also take classes in exercise, dance and foreign languages.

About the University of Texas Austin

The University of Texas Austin is one of the largest universities in the United States with a student body of over 50,000. The university is a Public Ivy, which means it provides what is considered to be an Ivy League education at a public school.

The University of Texas Austin is world-renowned for ground-breaking research. The focus of the university’s research projects is largely physical sciences and engineering. The Dell Pediatric Research Institute is focused on medical research. The Center for Agile Technology is centered around software development. The university is also home to the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, the Breckenridge Field Laboratory and the Center for Transportation Research.

The campus is home to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art. Blanton has over 18,000 pieces in its permanent collection. The museum includes works by Peter Paul Rubens, Thomas Hart Benton, Diego Rivera, and Alice Neel.

The university is highly ranked on both a national and a global scale. U.S. News and World Report ranks the University of Texas Austin as 48th nationally. The Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks the University of Texas Austin at number 45 in the world.

Notable alumni from the University of Texas Austin include actors, politicians, sports figures, astronauts and CEOs. Alan Bean, Michael Dell, David Geffen, Rex Tillerson, F. Murray Abraham, Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Felicia Day, Farrah Fawcett, Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Janis Joplin, Laura Bush, Lady Bird Johnson, Jeb Bush, Scott McClellan, Tommy Franks, Rick Riordan, Roger Clemens, Kevin Durant, Tom Landry, and Mary Lou Retton are all alums from the University of Texas Austin.

University of Texas Austin Accreditation Details

The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Texas Austin Application Requirements

Applying as an undergraduate includes completing the online application, providing an essay, answering short answer questions, offering test scores and having official transcripts sent to the university. The application also incurs a $75 fee. Those students applying to specific majors may have other requirements as determined by that department.

Prospective graduate students should contact each department directly to learn exactly which requirements are needed. Applications and admission requirements vary greatly depending on the program.

Students enrolling at the extended campus do not have to go through the admissions process.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of attending the University of Texas Austin as an undergraduate is dependent upon the student’s degree program. Each student is charged a flat-rate based on 12 credit hours or more per semester. Texas residents are charged a tuition of $10,314 to $11,852 per year. Out-of-state students must pay $36,716 to $42,082 each year.

In addition to the cost of tuition, students who live on campus are charged $11,812 per year for room and board. They can also expect to spend about $700 on books and other class materials. The university recommends that students budget roughly $3,000 for living expenses. Graduate students have a slightly lower tuition rate at $8,684 to $10,848 per year for Texas residents and $17,312 to $19,786 each year for non-resident students.

Students are urged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to help with the cost of attendance. The FAFSA determines a student’s ability to qualify for grants, work-study, certain loans, and need-based scholarships. The university offers over 3,000 scholarships, including the Gates Scholarship which pays the entire unmet need for minority students.

Learn more about the University of Texas Austin at the university website.