University of Texas at Austin campus
Top 10 U.S. Public University | Austin Tech Hub

University of Texas at Austin
Complete Guide for Indian Students 2026

One of America's most prestigious public universities. Elite Engineering and CS, McCombs MBA, and direct access to Austin's booming tech ecosystem — Tesla, Dell, Oracle, and hundreds of startups.

Undergraduate ApplicantsMaster's ApplicantsMBA (McCombs) ApplicantsParents & Families

UT Austin at a Glance

Public Flagship

Type

Austin, TX

Location

Top 10 Public

Ranking

~52,000

Students

~10%

Intl. Students

English

Language

What Makes UT Austin Different

UT Austin is not your typical public university. It has brand power that rivals many private institutions, attracts top-tier recruiters, and offers ROI that competes with Ivy League schools — at a fraction of the cost.

Austin Tech Ecosystem

Tesla, Dell, Oracle, Apple, Google, Meta — all have major Austin presence. Internships and jobs are local.

Best Value in Elite Education

Top-10 engineering and CS at public university tuition. ROI rivals Stanford and MIT for many programs.

Cockrell Engineering

One of the strongest engineering schools in the U.S. with massive industry partnerships.

McCombs MBA

One of the best public MBA programs. Strong consulting and tech placement. Powerful Texas corporate network.

CS Powerhouse

UT Austin CS is among the top in the world. AI, systems, and theory strengths attract global talent.

Startup Culture

Austin is the #1 city for startups outside Silicon Valley. Entrepreneurship is embedded in campus culture.

UT Austin's Schools — Choose Wisely

Competitive majors like CS, Engineering, and Business are significantly harder to gain admission into than others.

Cockrell School of Engineering

Focus: All engineering disciplines

Popular: Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Petroleum

Among the most competitive. Strong industry partnerships and co-ops.

College of Natural Sciences

Focus: CS, Math, Data Science, Biology

Popular: Computer Science (most competitive), Mathematics, Physics

CS here is harder to get into than many Ivy League programs.

McCombs School of Business

Focus: BBA, MBA, specialized masters

Popular: BBA (direct admit), MBA, MS Business Analytics

Direct admit BBA is very selective. McCombs MBA is a top public program.

College of Liberal Arts

Focus: Social sciences, humanities, policy

Popular: Economics, Government, Psychology, Plan II Honors

Plan II Honors is UT's most prestigious interdisciplinary program.

Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Undergraduate

CBSE / ISC / IB accepted
Academic performance critical — especially for CS and Engineering
Holistic review including essays
SAT/ACT optional but strong scores help significantly
Competitive majors are significantly harder than others
TOEFL 79+ or IELTS 6.5+ (higher recommended)

Master's Programs

Strong undergraduate degree required
SOP, CV, recommendations
GRE required or optional (program dependent)
Quantitative readiness essential for STEM and analytics
Many programs connected to Austin's tech ecosystem

MBA (McCombs)

GMAT or GRE required
Professional work experience expected
Essays and interview
McCombs evaluates: leadership potential, analytical ability, career clarity
Strong for consulting, tech, energy, and entrepreneurship

Best Programs at UT Austin

Computer Science

Natural Sciences

Top 10 globally, extremely competitive entry

Electrical / Mechanical Engineering

Cockrell Engineering

Top ranked, strong industry partnerships

Business Administration (BBA)

McCombs Business

Direct admit program, consulting & finance pipeline

Economics

Liberal Arts

Strong quantitative focus, pre-professional

Data Science

Natural Sciences

Growing rapidly, Austin tech ecosystem

MBA (McCombs)

McCombs Business

Top public MBA, consulting & tech placement, strong ROI

MS Computer Science

Natural Sciences

Research-intensive, AI and systems strengths

Public Policy

LBJ School

Policy + data analytics focus

Costs & Budget for Indian Students

LevelTuitionLivingTotal Budget
Undergraduate (Non-Resident)$42,000-$48,000/yr$16,000-$23,000/yr~$62,000-$75,000/yr
Master's Programs$35,000-$55,000/yr$16,000-$23,000/yr~$52,000-$78,000/yr
MBA (McCombs)$110,000-$125,000 total$32,000-$46,000 total~$140,000-$160,000 total

Austin is more affordable than coastal tech cities but costs are rising due to tech growth. Insurance, travel, and personal expenses vary.

Career Outcomes After UT Austin

Technology

Tesla, Dell, Oracle, Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta — all recruit heavily from UT Austin

Consulting

McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte — strong McCombs and Engineering placement

Finance & Banking

Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Citi — Texas financial ecosystem

Startups & Entrepreneurship

Austin is the #1 startup city outside Silicon Valley. UT has strong incubators.

Energy & Infrastructure

Texas is the U.S. energy capital. Petroleum and environmental engineering strengths.

Corporate Strategy

McCombs MBA graduates enter strategy roles at Fortune 500 companies across Texas and the U.S.

Who Should Apply to UT Austin

  • Want strong STEM or business education at a top public university
  • Value ROI and strong job outcomes
  • Comfortable in a large campus environment
  • Aiming for tech, consulting, or finance careers
  • Want access to Austin's tech ecosystem

Think Carefully If You...

  • Assume public universities are easier to enter
  • Expect admission to CS or Engineering without exceptional academics
  • Prefer small private university environments
  • Need significant financial aid (limited for international undergrads at public universities)
Dr. Karan Gupta

Dr. Karan Gupta's Admission Advice

UT Austin offers one of the best value-to-prestige ratios in the U.S. Engineering and CS outcomes are excellent, McCombs MBA offers strong ROI, and Austin's tech growth adds long-term career advantages.

It is a powerful choice for students targeting technology, consulting, or corporate leadership — especially those who value both reputation and practical outcomes.

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FAQs: UT Austin for Indian Students

Is UT Austin prestigious?
Yes — UT Austin is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the U.S. and is globally recognized for engineering, CS, and business programs.
Is Computer Science at UT Austin very competitive?
Extremely. CS at UT Austin is one of the most competitive programs in the country for international students. Exceptional academics are essential.
Is McCombs MBA respected?
Yes — McCombs is one of the strongest public MBA programs in the U.S., with strong placement into consulting, tech, and the Texas corporate network.
Is Austin expensive for students?
Moderate, but rising rapidly due to tech growth. Still more affordable than coastal cities like SF, NYC, or Boston.
Do Indian graduates get post-study work rights?
Yes, eligible international students can work under OPT rules (12 months + 24-month STEM extension for qualifying programs).
What companies recruit from UT Austin?
Tesla, Dell, Oracle, Google, Amazon, Apple, McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs, and hundreds of Austin startups actively recruit from UT Austin.

Thinking About UT Austin?

Dr. Karan Gupta has 27+ years of experience guiding Indian students to top U.S. universities. Get personalized admission strategy.

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