UT Austin tuition · Computer Science (CSDS)
UT Austin Computer Science (CSDS) Tuition
UT Austin Computer Science (CSDS) tuition and required fees for 2025-26 are approximately $15,300/year for Texas residents and $53,500/year for non-residents at full-time enrollment (15 credit hours). The $38,200/year difference is the residency-classification gap; out-of-state families can legally qualify for the resident rate through the 12-month Texas residency pathway.
The Computer Science (CSDS) tuition breakdown
Computer Science applies the highest differential tuition at UT Austin, roughly $1,800/semester above the base undergraduate rate. The differential funds the small upper-division class sizes, faculty research support, lab capacity, and the career services operation that places CS graduates in major technology companies.
| Component | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Base tuition | ~$8,182 | ~$37,274 |
| Computer Science (CSDS) differential | ~$3,612 | ~$8,592 |
| Required fees | ~$3,506 | ~$7,634 |
| Annual total | $15,300 | $53,500 |
Admissions context for Computer Science (CSDS)
UT Computer Science admits approximately 350-400 direct-admit students per year, making it one of the most competitive admissions paths at the university. Average admitted GPA approximately 4.0 unweighted, SAT 1,520+, with substantial extracurricular evidence (competitive programming, published apps, research, hackathon awards). The Turing Scholars program is even more selective.
Why Computer Science (CSDS) tuition is higher
CS at UT competes nationally for faculty with industry and other top-tier programs. Faculty members frequently consult with or take leave for major technology companies (Google, Meta, Amazon). The differential tuition supports faculty retention plus the small upper-division class sizes that make UT CS the program it is.
Career outcomes for Computer Science (CSDS) graduates
Recent CS graduates report median starting salaries of $115,000-$140,000 (base) plus signing bonuses of $20,000-$50,000 and stock grants worth $50,000-$200,000 over four-year vesting periods. Top employers: Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Stripe, Palantir, plus Austin technology firms and the increasingly prominent quant-trading recruiting (Jane Street, Citadel).
Program details
- Direct admission to CS is the only practical route; internal transfer is highly limited.
- The Turing Scholars program is a small invitation-only research-track within CS.
- Curriculum: data structures, algorithms, operating systems, networking, AI, theory, plus electives in ML, security, graphics, distributed systems.
- Strong undergraduate research opportunities through the Freshman Research Initiative and individual faculty labs.
Out-of-state Computer Science (CSDS) students: how the residency pathway changes the math
If your student has been admitted to Computer Science (CSDS) as a non-resident, four-year tuition runs approximately $214,000 at flat rates (closer to $227,375 adjusted for ~4% annual increases). The Texas residency pathway, executed during year 1 and approved for year 2, brings the four-year total down by approximately $114,600.
The pathway: acquire Texas real property, the student lives at it, maintain Texas indicia (driver's license, vehicle registration, voter registration, federal tax return with Texas address) for 12 continuous months, file the residency petition through UT MyStatus. Full step-by-step pathway here.
The residency pathway works for every UT college
The residency framework applies identically whether the student is in Computer Science (CSDS), Liberal Arts, or any other college. Differential tuition (the part that makes Computer Science (CSDS) more expensive than the base) is the same for residents and non-residents. The residency reclassification only affects the statutory (residency-sensitive) portion of tuition, but that portion is the same dollars across all colleges. Annual savings: about $38,200/year regardless of major.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Computer Science (CSDS) tuition at UT Austin?
Why is Computer Science (CSDS) tuition higher than the UT Austin base undergraduate rate?
Will Computer Science (CSDS) tuition increase next year?
Can out-of-state Computer Science (CSDS) students qualify for in-state tuition?
Are Computer Science (CSDS) students eligible for major-specific scholarships?
How competitive are Computer Science (CSDS) admissions?
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