UT Austin comparison · vs ASU
UT Austin vs Arizona State University
UT Austin in-state tuition is $11,688/year vs ASU in-state at $13,400/year. Out-of-state at UT is $44,908/year vs ASU out-of-state at $32,200/year. For out-of-state families, the Texas residency pathway can convert the UT non-resident rate to the resident rate in 12 months, making UT after residency the cheapest of the four classifications.
Summary
UT Austin and Arizona State are both large public research universities but differ in academic prestige tier. UT Austin sits in the top 25 of national public universities; ASU is typically ranked in the 40-60 range nationally. UT outranks ASU in most academic comparisons (Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts), though ASU has built a strong technology and innovation reputation in recent years. Cost: ASU in-state at ~$13,400 is comparable to UT in-state; ASU out-of-state at ~$32,200 is materially cheaper than UT out-of-state at $44,908.
Cost comparison
| Tuition + Required Fees | UT Austin | ASU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state (resident) | $11,688 | $13,400 | UT cheaper by $1,712 |
| Out-of-state (non-resident) | $44,908 | $32,200 | ASU cheaper by $12,708 |
| UT after Texas residency | $11,688 | vs ASU in-state: $1,712 cheaper at UT |
ASU out-of-state at $32,200 is about $12,700/year cheaper than UT out-of-state at $44,908. ASU in-state at $13,400 is about $1,700/year more expensive than UT in-state at $11,688. For out-of-state families considering UT through the Texas residency pathway, UT after residency at $11,688 becomes cheaper than ASU at either rate.
Where UT Austin wins
- UT generally outranks ASU on national prestige metrics across nearly every academic discipline
- McCombs Business outranks W. P. Carey on US News rankings (top 10 vs top 35)
- Computer Science at UT outranks ASU CS by a wide margin
- Cockrell Engineering outranks Fulton Engineering in most disciplines
- Smaller class sizes and more selective admissions environment
- Austin tech industry and broader Texas economic base
Where ASU wins
- ASU out-of-state tuition is materially lower at ~$32,200/year (vs UT $44,908)
- ASU has very large total enrollment (~80,000 across all campuses) providing broad major options
- Phoenix metro is the 5th largest in the US with strong tech and finance employment
- ASU Online offers flexible degree paths not available at UT
- ASU Honors College (Barrett) has strong reputation in the honors-college niche
- Warmer winter climate than Austin
Program comparison
For Business: McCombs (top 10) significantly outranks W. P. Carey (top 35) in undergraduate rankings. For Engineering: Cockrell outranks Fulton in most disciplines. For Computer Science: UT CS outranks ASU CS by a wide margin and recruits at a higher tier of tech companies. For Liberal Arts: UT generally outranks ASU. For interdisciplinary innovation programs and Honors College, ASU Barrett is well-regarded.
Admissions comparison
UT Austin acceptance rate is ~31% overall (~8-13% for non-residents). ASU acceptance rate is ~88% (much more accessible). ASU admits substantially broader academic profiles. UT is significantly more selective in admissions across the board.
Culture and campus
UT Austin is in the heart of Austin, an urban, music-and-tech-driven state capital. ASU's main campus is in Tempe, a Phoenix suburb; campus life is largely centered on campus and immediate surroundings. ASU has a stronger Greek life and traditional college sports culture; UT has Texas football tradition. Climate differs: Austin is humid subtropical; Phoenix is arid desert.
The Texas residency angle
Texas residency pathway makes UT cheaper than ASU at either rate. UT after residency at $11,688 vs ASU out-of-state at $32,200 saves about $20,500/year. UT after residency is also cheaper than ASU in-state ($13,400). Arizona residency for out-of-state college students is harder to establish than Texas residency.
Frequently asked questions
Is UT Austin better than ASU?
Is UT Austin cheaper than ASU for out-of-state students?
My student got into both ASU Barrett Honors College and UT. Which is better?
Can my student establish Texas residency at UT vs Arizona residency at ASU?
What about the Phoenix vs Austin job market?
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