UT Austin vs. Texas Tech

Deciding between The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

The University of Texas at Austin
Texas Tech University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
  • Setting
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Texas Tech Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Texas Tech 40,757
  • Type
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • Texas Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UT Austin #105
  • Texas Tech #448
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UT Austin -
  • Texas Tech -
  • Status
  • UT Austin Non-profit
  • Texas Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UT Austin
  • Texas Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Texas Tech $11,852
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Texas Tech $24,451
  • Room & Board
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Texas Tech $10,742
  • Average Net Price
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Texas Tech $16,919
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • Texas Tech $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UT Austin 42%
  • Texas Tech 79%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Texas Tech 34,356
  • Admitted
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Texas Tech 24,958
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Texas Tech 72.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Texas Tech 27.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Texas Tech 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UT Austin 30
  • Texas Tech 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Texas Tech 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UT Austin A-
  • Texas Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Texas Tech Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UT Austin High
  • Texas Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • UT Austin 27/33
  • Texas Tech 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • UT Austin 1250/1510
  • Texas Tech 1090/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UT Austin Required
  • Texas Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026
  • Texas Tech

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Texas Tech 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Texas Tech
    • Business (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Texas Tech 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Texas Tech $58,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Texas Tech 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Texas Tech $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UT Austin $230
  • Texas Tech $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Texas Tech 49%
  • % Women
  • UT Austin 56%
  • Texas Tech 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UT Austin Very High
  • Texas Tech High
  • HBCU
  • UT Austin No
  • Texas Tech No
  • % White
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Texas Tech 60%
  • % Asian
  • UT Austin 20%
  • Texas Tech 2%
  • % Black
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Texas Tech 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UT Austin 22%
  • Texas Tech 23%
  • % Native American
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Texas Tech 3%
  • % International
  • UT Austin 5%
  • Texas Tech 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UT Austin 1%
  • Texas Tech 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UT Austin 87%
  • Texas Tech 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UT Austin 8%
  • Texas Tech 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UT Austin Yes
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UT Austin No
  • Texas Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • UT Austin Yes
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UT Austin No
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UT Austin Yes
  • Texas Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Texas Tech based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 40,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, TX (Large City setting); Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas at Austin 18:1; Texas Tech University 20:1.

UT Austin vs. Texas Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT Austin or Texas Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Texas Tech University than UT Austin ($16,919 vs. $17,942).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Tech University are 27.6% lower than at The University of Texas at Austin ($10,742 vs. $14,828).
  • Texas Tech University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $164 more per year; $11,852.00 vs. $11,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.7% higher at UT Austin than at Texas Tech University (about $20,457 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $24,451.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Tech University than at The University of Texas at Austin (79% vs. 42%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students is 30.4% larger than aid received by Texas Tech University students ($13,681 vs. $10,494).

UT Austin vs. Texas Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT Austin or Texas Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Texas Tech and UT Austin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 190 points higher than at Texas Tech (1190).
  • Incoming UT Austin students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Texas Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510; Texas Tech University 1090/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Austin 27/33; Texas Tech University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT Austin - Required; Texas Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UT Austin students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Texas Tech (3.76).
  • Texas Tech has a higher acceptance rate (72.6%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.4% at UT Austin vs. 27.1% at Texas Tech.

UT Austin vs. Texas Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT Austin and Texas Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The University of Texas at Austin's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Texas Tech University's (61%).
  • Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Texas Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $58,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Austin graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Texas Tech graduates ($22,250 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, UT Austin graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Texas Tech graduates ($230 vs. $232).
  • More UT Austin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Texas Tech students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.