For families relocating from Florida

UT Austin in-state tuition for Florida families

The complete guide for Florida parents whose student is admitted to UT Austin from out of state. Texas residency rules, the math, and what is specific to moving from Florida.

Quick answer

A Florida family pursuing the Texas residency pathway for UT Austin in-state tuition can save approximately $99,660 over the typical three-year in-state pathway (annual savings of $33,220). The standard out-of-state-to-in-state route requires 12 months of Texas domicile (real property, vehicle registration, voter registration, federal tax return with Texas address) before the term's census date. The closest public-college baseline in Florida is University of Florida at roughly $6,381/year; UT Austin at the resident rate is $11,688.

Logistics: getting between Florida and Austin

Primary airport: MIA
Flight time to AUS: ~3 hours
Driving distance to Austin: ~1,290 miles

Cost of living: Florida vs. Austin

South Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Palm Beach) housing has appreciated rapidly and runs comparable to or above Austin. Central and North Florida (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee) are generally similar to or cheaper than Austin. Both Florida and Texas have no state income tax; this is one of the few origin states where the tax-savings argument does not move the needle. The decision is more about academic fit than about state taxes.

UT Austin and Florida

Florida families send a meaningful number of students to UT Austin, especially in McCombs and the College of Natural Sciences. The University of Florida's in-state tuition is among the lowest in the country (~$6,381/year), which means UF is hard to beat on pure tuition cost; the UT residency pathway brings UT in-state ($11,688/year) closer to but not below UF. Florida families pursuing UT often cite specific program fit (McCombs MIS, Cockrell Engineering specialties) rather than overall cost.

The savings math for a Florida family

Out-of-state tuition at UT Austin is approximately $44,908/year. In-state tuition is $11,688/year. Annual savings from in-state classification: $33,220. Compared to staying in-state at University of Florida ($6,381/year), UT Austin at the resident rate is $38,527 more per year.

For full year-by-year modeling, use the tuition calculator.

Moving from Florida, residency considerations

Florida and Texas are both no-income-tax states, so the headline tax-driven case for a residency move is muted. Florida's real-estate tax structure (Save Our Homes assessment cap, three percent annual increase limit, generous homestead exemption) is more favorable than Texas's ten percent cap and standard homestead. Families relocating from Florida should expect that the Florida homestead must be withdrawn (you cannot claim primary residence in both states) and that the Save Our Homes benefit on the Florida property is lost on the residency shift.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Consult a Texas-licensed attorney or CPA before relying on anything specific.

Frequently asked questions (Florida)

Is UF in-state always cheaper than UT in-state for a Florida family?

Yes, on pure tuition cost. UF at roughly $6,381/year (2025-26) is about $5,300/year cheaper than UT in-state at $11,688. The case for UT pivots on program fit and the cost vs. UT out-of-state ($44,908/year), not vs. UF.

What happens to the Florida homestead exemption when we shift to Texas?

The Florida homestead exemption (and the Save Our Homes assessment cap) require the property to be the owner's primary residence. Withdraw the homestead declaration before petitioning for Texas residency. The reset on Save Our Homes means the next Florida tax year's assessment is at market value, which can be a meaningful one-time tax increase if you have held the Florida home for several years.

Does the Florida Bright Futures scholarship matter here?

Bright Futures is a Florida-state academic scholarship paid to Florida public colleges. It does not transfer to UT Austin. Florida families with Bright Futures awards typically use them at UF or another Florida public if cost is the primary driver.

We just spent four months a year in Florida and four in Texas already. Does that help our case?

It can help, if the documentary record (federal tax return address, driver license, vehicle registration, voter registration) reflects Texas during the 12-month clock. Time in Florida during the clock period needs to be explained in the petition narrative; it does not by itself defeat Texas domicile so long as the indicia point to Texas.

Want a sanity check from a Texas-licensed broker?

If you are weighing a Texas property purchase as part of the pathway, you can talk to our recommended Austin broker. Free, no obligation.

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