Texas State University is a public research institution located in San Marcos, Texas, which is a small city environment that is mid-way between Austin and San Antonio. The university has a sizeable enrollment of around 32,000 undergraduate students. Admissions are moderately competitive with an acceptance rate of around 88%. Some of the most popular majors include Business, Psychology, Education, Health Professions, and Communication. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 57%, and Texas State alumni receive a median starting salary of roughly US$42,210 after a few years after graduation.
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is a public research institution located in Austin, Texas, in an urban environment within the state capital. It is a very large institution with roughly 40,000+ undergraduate students. Admissions is extremely competitive with an acceptance rate of around 31%. Some of the popular majors are Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, Computer Science, and Communication. The six-year graduation rate stands at approximately 88%, and UT Austin graduates have a median alumni salary of approximately US$68,600 ten years after graduation.
| Texas State University | University of Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1200 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1201 Times Higher Education 2025 # 1316 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 50 Times Higher Education 2026 # 68 QS World University 2026 # 36 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 801 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 1201 for Law by Times Higher Education 2023 | # 9 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 148 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 14 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -51 PG Programs -49 | UG Programs -80 PG Programs -83 |
| Acceptance Rate | 88.0 % | 27.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1020 TOEFL-78 | IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 20784.6 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 22284.6 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 24200 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 44450 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 27216 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17052 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $140,000 Bachelor of Science: $60,000 Bachelor of Arts: $49,000 | QS Graduate Employability Rankings- #54; |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts of all previous education Submit English language proficiency test scores Check program specific requirements |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | McCombs School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 2 reviews | 8.1/10 Read 15 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 120 for Business by US News 2025 # 601 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 16 for Business by US News 2025 # 51 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 53 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 52/90TOEFL - 78/120 | IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 105/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -33670 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) | Jan 15, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) Mar 26, 2026 (Decision Notification for Round 2) Apr 1, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 Intake) May 7, 2026 (Decision Notification for Round 3) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Texas State University | University of Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1899 | 1883 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 42% Male, 58% Female | 43% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | The Texas State University main campus is located in San Marcos, Texas, midway between Austin and San Antonio. The university's Round Rock Campus (RRC) is located in Round Rock, Texas, 20 miles (32 km) north of Austin. | Main Campus in central Austin; J. J. Pickle Research Campus in north Austin. The main campus has 150 building with its main visible feature as Beaux-Arts main Building. Some of the nearby areas are Cameron Road, Hyde Park, Mueller, Tarrytown, Downtown Austin |
| Library | The Alkek library was named in 1991 for an alumnus, Albert B. Alkek, who became an oilman, rancher, and philanthropist. University Libraries provide key services and resources that fuel the success of research and innovation at Texas State University. University Libraries comprise three facilities and two prestigious collections that are continually evolving to meet the needs of the growing university and an ever-changing, technology-driven world. | For more than 125 years, the University of Texas Libraries have committed to building one of the greatest library collections in the world. Maintaining more than 10 million volumes and providing access to the latest digital journals, databases and web resources, the Libraries collects and preserves the finest achievements of human knowledge in support of not only research and instruction needs, but also the exploration of ideas and intellectual innovation. |
| Campus Life | Approximately 20% of Texas State students live in on-campus or in university-owned housing including about 95% of freshman students. Texas State University has more than 300 student organizations registered with its Student Involvement department. These organizations include Greek organizations, academic groups, honors societies, service groups, sports clubs, and common interest groups. Texas State has more than 30 fraternities and sororities, including 13 fraternities from the North American Interfraternity Conference, 9 fraternities and sororities from the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council, 8 sororities from the National Panhellenic Conference, and 9 multicultural fraternities and sororities from the National Multicultural Greek Council. The school's student government is an organization of both undergraduate and graduate students who represent student's interests with the university administration. Student government has dealt with issues including concealed carry on campus and the university's anti-tobacco policy. Student Government also administers a scholarship fund that any Texas State student can apply to earn. Texas State currently competes at the NCAA Division I level and are members of the Sun Belt Conference. Texas State teams and athletes from multiple sports have won national and regional championships as well as medalists in the Olympic Games. | 1,300+ student organizations, Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art, Harry Ransom Center, Texas Memorial Museum, Natural Science Center, UT Tower are all offered to students for indulging in their passion. There are over 10 dining halls within the campus. |
| Hostel | #Off campus (with family) - $6290 #Off campus (not with family) - $8420 #On campus - $9490 | #Housing and Food - $17052 |
| Famous Alumni | Paul Goldschmidt, 6-time MLB All-Star Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States Robert L. Rutherford, General, United States Air Force John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System Ricky Wayne Sanders, 2× Super Bowl champion | 482,000+ alumni; Matthew McConaughey (American actor); Owen Wilson (American Actor), Rex W. Tillerson (Former United States Secretary of State), Neil deGrasse Tyson (American astrophysicist), Lady Bird Johnson (Former First Lady of the United States) |
| City Life | With a diverse, vibrant community of nearly 100,000 residents, San Marcos is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in San Diego County. In addition to the top-ranked San Marcos Unified School District, residents can rely on an efficient public transportation system and access to quality medical care. Award-winning master-planned communities, such as San Elijo HIlls—which features a plethora of shops, restaurants, and more than 18 miles of hiking trails—provide residents with conveniently located amenities. Additionally, San Marcos enjoys a mild year-round climate, perfect for enjoying the city’s vast parks and trails program, as well as nearby lakes and beaches. | The city bursts with an entrepreneurial spirit and has internationally renowned music, film and art scenes. The spring-fed waters of Barton and greenbelt trails make the city a perfect destination for outdoor creation. The unemployment rate of the city is 6.7 as of July 2020. Being one of the fastest-growing metros, it offers a great opportunities for students. |
| Weather |
Texas State University vs University of Texas at Austin
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both UT Austin and Texas State are major public research universities in Texas, but UT Austin greatly surpasses Texas State internationally based on its size, research volume, and reputation. UT Austin is often placed between 100 and the top globally and among the top-rated public universities in the US. Texas State is featured less often in high world ranking categories; it's more commonly known regionally for its excellence in education, psychology, health professions, and communication. UT Austin is tops in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Social/Physical Sciences, commonly ranking in the nation's top spots in those disciplines.
General Information
UT Austin, with enrollment of undergraduates in the 40,000+ range, is far larger than Texas State's ~ 32,000. UT Austin's campus is urban, located in downtown Austin, and provides a broad spectrum of research, professional, graduate, and undergraduate programs. Texas State, headquartered in San Marcos with satellites, provides numerous undergraduate and graduate programs but lacks comparatively more regional resources, research facilities, and prestige.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UT Austin admissions are very competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 31%, while Texas State's acceptance rate is significantly lower ~ 88%. UT Austin accepts students with superior academic credentials (more highly scoring SAT/ACT scores for admitted students, challenging coursework, superior GPAs). Texas State admitted students' test score averages are less impressive. Both institutions take into account high school GPA, course rigor, and other holistic factors in admissions.
Research Impact & Facilities
UT Austin has an R1 ranking with extremely high research activity, high research funding, highly regarded faculty, labs, and research centers (engineering, sciences, liberal arts, etc.). Texas State also does research and has plenty of facilities, but its scope, funding, and research output are much less compared to UT Austin. UT Austin has very large labs, highly visible research centers, large graduate programs, and attracts more national/international research focus.
Cost & Financial Aid
Texas State's in-state rate is comparatively low, and higher for out-of-state; net cost after financial aid and support differs but is generally lower than UT Austin's for most students. UT Austin, with similar financial aid, charges higher for out-of-state students, but has solid scholarship opportunities and institutional aid that minimize net cost for most. Overall, the cost of attendance at UT Austin is more, particularly for non-residents, but there is more value in terms of post-graduation employment.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UT Austin alumni have much higher median starting salaries (about US$68,600 ten years out) compared to Texas State alumni (about US$42,210). UT Austin's six-year graduation rate (~ 88%) is significantly greater than Texas State's (~ 57%), an indication of better student retention and completion. UT Austin graduates enjoy more robust national and global network, very high recruitment in tech, business, engineering, etc., while Texas State alumni enjoy strong regional achievements and fair performance in education, health professions, business, but with lower earnings potential and wider prestige.
