UT Austin comparison · vs UF
UT Austin vs University of Florida
UT Austin in-state tuition is $11,688/year vs UF in-state at $6,400/year. Out-of-state at UT is $44,908/year vs UF out-of-state at $28,700/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 University of Florida are both top-tier public flagships in the SEC/Big 12 sphere. UF has built a strong national reputation in recent years (now top 5 public university by some rankings). Cost: UF in-state at ~$6,400 is dramatically cheaper than UT in-state at $11,688; UF out-of-state at ~$28,700 is materially cheaper than UT out-of-state at $44,908. For Florida-resident families, UF at home is significantly cheaper than UT even through the Texas residency pathway.
Cost comparison
| Tuition + Required Fees | UT Austin | UF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state (resident) | $11,688 | $6,400 | UF cheaper by $5,288 |
| Out-of-state (non-resident) | $44,908 | $28,700 | UF cheaper by $16,208 |
| UT after Texas residency | $11,688 | vs UF in-state: $5,288 more at UT |
UF is significantly cheaper in both classifications. UF in-state at $6,400/year is about $5,300 less than UT in-state. UF out-of-state at $28,700 is about $16,200 less than UT out-of-state. For Florida-resident families, UF at home is the cheaper option even compared to UT after Texas residency. For non-Florida out-of-state families considering both, UF OOS at $28,700 is cheaper than UT OOS but more expensive than UT after Texas residency at $11,688.
Where UT Austin wins
- McCombs Business generally outranks Warrington College of Business
- Cockrell Engineering competitive with UF Engineering, particularly in petroleum
- Computer Science at UT typically ranks comparable to or above UF CS
- Austin tech industry has more depth than Gainesville
- Larger and more diverse alumni network across the Sun Belt
- Plan II Honors is more distinctive than UF Honors
Where UF wins
- UF in-state at $6,400 is dramatically cheaper than UT in-state at $11,688 (about $5,300/year less)
- UF out-of-state at $28,700 is ~$16,200/year cheaper than UT out-of-state
- UF has built a strong national reputation; some rankings place it ahead of UT
- Bright Futures Florida scholarship covers significant tuition for Florida residents
- Strong pre-med and pre-vet pipelines (UF has a Vet School, UT does not)
- SEC football tradition; Gainesville is a classic SEC college town
Program comparison
For Business: McCombs (top 10) generally outranks Warrington (top 20). For Engineering: comparable; UF stronger in biomedical and agricultural engineering, UT stronger in petroleum. For Computer Science: UT generally outranks UF. For Pre-Vet/Vet School: UF has the only veterinary medicine school of the two; UT does not. For Liberal Arts: comparable rankings overall.
Admissions comparison
UF acceptance rate ~30%; UT ~31%. Both are similarly selective on aggregate. UF admits substantially through holistic review; UT has the Top 10% Rule for Texas residents. For non-residents at either school, admissions are competitive.
Culture and campus
University of Florida is in Gainesville, a classic SEC college town of ~140K. SEC football is central. Hot, humid Florida climate. UT Austin sits in urban Austin, the Texas state capital, with music and tech industry as the surrounding context. Both have strong sports cultures but UF's Gators football is more central to the small-college-town experience.
The Texas residency angle
For Florida-resident families, staying at UF in-state at $6,400 is cheaper than pursuing Texas residency at UT for $11,688. The math favors UF for Florida families. For non-Florida out-of-state families considering both, UT after Texas residency at $11,688 is cheaper than UF out-of-state at $28,700. Texas residency pathway is more achievable than Florida residency reclassification.
Frequently asked questions
Is UT Austin better than UF?
Is UF cheaper than UT for in-state students?
Should my Florida student attend UF or pursue UT through the residency pathway?
How does Bright Futures change the math?
My non-Florida family is choosing between UF OOS and UT OOS. Which is cheaper?
Talk to Luke
Your situation is specific. Get a written answer.
The site covers the general case. If your circumstances do not quite fit — divorce, military, scholarship interactions, late timing, prior denial — send a message. Luke replies personally, usually within one business day.
Or send a message and Luke will reply in writing: