1. Overview of the UT System
The University of Texas (UT) System is one of the largest public university systems in the U.S., comprising 14 institutions, including nine academic universities and five health/science centers. The nine academic institutions each award degrees independently, though they share central financial aid and governance through the UT System Board of Regents Axios click this link +1YouTube+1.
Academic Campuses (with Locations)
- UT Austin – Austin (flagship)
- UT Arlington – Arlington (part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex)
- UT Dallas – Richardson (North Dallas area)
- UT El Paso – El Paso
- UT Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) – Main campus in Edinburg, with additional campuses in Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, South Padre Island Wikipedia
- UT San Antonio – San Antonio
- UT Tyler – Tyler
- UT Permian Basin (UTPB) – Odessa
- Stephen F. Austin State University – Nacogdoches (joined UT System in 2023) The University of Texas System+4Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+4
Together they serve more than 250,000 students across Texas Wikipedia+15dallasnews.com+15statesman.com+15.
2. Degree Programs Offered
Each academic institution awards its own undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees within various fields. Approximate offerings:
- UT Dallas: over 148 academic programs — 57 bachelor’s, 59 master’s, 32 doctoral, plus 50+ certificates. Offers interdisciplinary and dual degrees (e.g., MS EE/MBA, Molecular Biology & Business/Criminology) businessinsider.com+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia.
- UT Austin: flagship public research university founded in 1883, with an enrollment of ~54,000 students and a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs spanning arts, engineering, business, law, education, natural sciences, and more Wikipedia.
- Others: Institutions such as UTEP, UTSA, UTRGV, UT Tyler, UTA, UTPB, and SFA offer a comprehensive mix of degrees from bachelor’s to doctoral across disciplines including health sciences, education, engineering, business, liberal arts, and more.
Each campus defines specific programs and admissions criteria. Notably, UTRGV serves a large Hispanic population and is known for its deep regional mission across multiple campuses in South Texas WikipediaWikipedia.
3. Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Tuition and fees vary by campus, residency status, and degree level. Key items:
3.1 In‑State vs Out‑of‑State Tuition
- At UT Austin, resident undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees are around $11,678–$11,900, while non-residents pay upwards of $42,700–$46,000 usnews.comUniversity of Texas at Austin.
- North Texas campuses (UT Arlington, UT Dallas): average net price after aid in 2022–23 was $14,956 at UTA and $13,464 at UTD for in‑state students, with average grants significantly reducing out-of-pocket cost dallasnews.com.
- UT Austin net cost: average net price for in‑state undergraduates in 2022–23 was $18,036, after average grants of $12,060 dallasnews.com.
3.2 Cost of Attendance Beyond Tuition
Based on UT Austin data for 2023–24:
- Housing and food: ~$15,400 (on campus) or ~$7,766 (living with parents)
- Transportation: ~$1,786
- Books & supplies: ~$720
- Personal/misc.: ~$3,560
- Total cost of attendance:
- On-campus resident: $32,344–$35,152
- With parents: $24,690–$27,408
- Out-of-state: $64,040–$72,682 University of Texas at Austin+1dallasnews.com+1
Graduate students incur slightly higher costs ($8,684‑$10,848 tuition for residents plus living and personal expenses totaling $33K–$35K for academic year fall/spring) University of Texas at Austin.
3.3 Financial Aid & Free Tuition Initiatives
UT System’s Promise Plus Program:
- Began in 2019 with a $167 million endowment at UT Austin, covering full tuition and fees for in‑state undergraduate students from families earning ≤ $65,000/year, plus partial aid up to $125,000 news.com.au+10The University of Texas System+10bestcolleges.com+10.
- Since 2022, the broader Promise Plus expanded system‑wide via a ~$300 million endowment, extending these benefits across all nine academic institutions apnews.com+2The University of Texas System+2bestcolleges.com+2.
- Starting fall 2025, UT System will waive tuition and Resources fees for undergraduates from families earning up to $100,000/year, making it the first Texas public university system to expand to that income level Axios+1Axios+1.
- UTEP had previously expanded its threshold to $75,000 earlier apnews.com.
These initiatives have correlated with declining student debt across the system—from ~54% of graduates with debt in 2019 to ~48% in 2023 apnews.com.
4. Summary by Campus
| Campus | Location | In‑State Tuition* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | Austin | ~$11,700 | Flagship; net cost ~$18K; Promise Plus eligible |
| UTA | Arlington, DFW | ~$10–12K typical | Net cost ~$15K; strong aid packages |
| UTD | Richardson (Dallas) | Similar to UTA | Net cost ~$13K; many interdisciplinary programs |
| UTEP | El Paso | In-state ~$10–12K | Expanded aid threshold to $75K families |
| UTSA | San Antonio | Comparable | Promise benefits available system-wide |
| UTRGV | Rio Grande Valley | Similar range | Large Hispanic-serving campus, regional reach |
| UT Tyler | Tyler | Moderate tuition | R2 doctoral university |
| UTPB | Odessa | Smaller campus costs | Regional campus, lower tuition |
| SFA | Nacogdoches | Modest tuition | Joined system recently (2023) |
*Based on academic year 2024–25 averages and system-wide data; out-of-state fees are typically 3–4× higher.
5. Key Takeaways
- Diverse campuses: Nine academic institutions across Texas offering a full range of degree programs — from STEM and business to health science and liberal arts.
- Tuition structure: In‑state undergraduate tuition ranges roughly $10K–$12K per academic year, with living and personal expenses bringing total cost to ~$25K–35K. Non-resident costs can exceed $60K/year.
- Financial aid leadership: The Promise Plus Program has steadily expanded — from $65,000 income eligibility at UT Austin in 2019 to system-wide eligibility at $100,000 in 2025, significantly improving affordability and reducing student debt apnews.com+4Axios+4Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1.
Conclusion
The University of Texas System combines wide geographic reach, strong academic offerings across its nine academic institutions, and innovative affordability strategies to serve students in nearly every region of the state. Whether you’re exploring a hop over to here flagship research campus in Austin or a regional university like UTRGV or UTPB, each campus offers accessible degrees backed by a financially supportive structure. With tuition-waiver thresholds now extending to families earning up to $100,000/year, the UT System is leading in affordability among large public university systems in the U.S.