UT Austin tuition · College of Natural Sciences
UT Austin College of Natural Sciences Tuition
UT Austin College of Natural Sciences tuition and required fees for 2025-26 are approximately $12,100/year for Texas residents and $45,500/year for non-residents at full-time enrollment (15 credit hours). The $33,400/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 College of Natural Sciences tuition breakdown
Natural Sciences applies a modest differential of approximately $200/semester above the base rate to fund laboratory courses required for biology, chemistry, physics, and other lab-intensive majors. Same rate for residents and non-residents.
| Component | In-State (per year) | Out-of-State (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Base tuition | ~$8,182 | ~$37,274 |
| College of Natural Sciences differential | ~$412 | ~$592 |
| Required fees | ~$3,506 | ~$7,634 |
| Annual total | $12,100 | $45,500 |
Admissions context for College of Natural Sciences
Natural Sciences admits approximately 3,500 students per year across the largest undergraduate college at UT. Majors include biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science (within CSDS, separately listed), mathematics, physics, astronomy, neuroscience, nutrition, human ecology, pre-med tracks, and many others.
Why College of Natural Sciences tuition is higher
Natural Sciences tuition is only slightly above the base because lab fees are typically charged per-course on top of tuition rather than bundled into a college differential. Pre-med students in particular face significant additional course-specific costs (~$500-$1,500/year in lab fees and prep materials).
Career outcomes for College of Natural Sciences graduates
Outcomes vary widely by major and post-graduation path. Pre-med students pursue medical school (med school costs $250K-$400K separately). Biology and biochemistry graduates pursue research positions ($45K-$60K starting), graduate school, or pivots to industry. Math and Physics graduates pivot heavily into finance, software, or graduate research.
Program details
- Includes the Health Science Scholars (premedical track), Polymath Scholars (interdisciplinary honors), and Dean's Scholars (research honors) programs.
- Freshman Research Initiative offers undergraduate research access in the first year, unusual for a research university.
- Pre-med advising and committee letters are managed at the college level.
- Strong combined-degree options with the Cockrell School (biomedical engineering) and McCombs (health-care management).
Out-of-state College of Natural Sciences students: how the residency pathway changes the math
If your student has been admitted to College of Natural Sciences as a non-resident, four-year tuition runs approximately $182,000 at flat rates (closer to $193,375 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 $100,200.
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 College of Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, or any other college. Differential tuition (the part that makes College of Natural Sciences 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 $33,400/year regardless of major.
Frequently asked questions
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Why is College of Natural Sciences tuition higher than the UT Austin base undergraduate rate?
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Are College of Natural Sciences students eligible for major-specific scholarships?
How competitive are College of Natural Sciences admissions?
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