The University of Texas at Austin, located in Austin, Texas, is a flagship public research university enrolling over 53,000 students. The school has a selective acceptance rate of about 29-30%, making admission highly competitive. UT Austin is best known for its programs in Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, and Law. The school has an average graduation rate of around 74-75% (4-year) or ~81-82% (6-year), while graduates of UT Austin enjoy early career salaries of approximately INR 45-50 lakhs annually (£38,000-42,000).
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a large public research university enrolling about 28,900 undergraduates and more when including graduate students. The school has a moderately selective acceptance rate of roughly 46%, making admission competitive but accessible for many qualified students. The University of Tennessee is best known for its programs in Engineering, Business, Agriculture, and Health Sciences. The school has an average graduation rate of about 60-65% (six years), while graduates of Tennessee enjoy early career wages of approximately INR 30-34 lakhs annually (£25,000-29,000).
| University of Texas | University of Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 50 Times Higher Education 2026 # 68 QS World University 2026 # 36 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 607 QS World University 2026 # 232 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 9 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 148 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 14 for Law by US News 2025 | # 126 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 327 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 # 55 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -80 PG Programs -83 | UG Programs -126 PG Programs -57 Doctorate Programs -63 |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.0 % | 46.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-79 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1140 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 44450 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 27216 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17052 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 30977 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 31116 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 27058 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | QS Graduate Employability Rankings- #54; | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $105,000 Bachelor of Arts: $81,000 Masters in Science: $79,000 Bachelor of Science: $69,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts of all previous education Submit English language proficiency test scores Check program specific requirements | Submit self reported academic scores Submit one recommendation letter Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 15 reviews | 8.2/10 Read 2 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 16 for Business by US News 2025 # 51 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 53 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 49 for Business by US News 2025 # 251 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 105/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | 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) | Oct 15, 2025 (Application Deadline Round 1) Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline Round 2) Jun 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Texas | University of Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1883 | 1794 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 18:1:1 | 17:1 |
| Male:Female | 43% Male, 0% Female | 50% Male, 50% Female |
| Location Facts | 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 | University of tennessee, Knoxville is the main campus of the university of tennessee system and is present in Knoxville. |
| Library | 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. | The UT Libraries supports the teaching, research, and service mission of the university and enhances the academic experience of each student at the Knoxville campus – through outstanding print and electronic collections, reference and instructional services, and top-notch facilities and technological resources. |
| Campus Life | 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. | Student Life offices are dedicated to creating and hosting events and spaces that are welcoming to all students. By engaging students, faculty, and staff in meaningful conversations, the university makes sure all students feel like they matter and belong on campus.The University of Tennessee has over 450 registered student organizations. These groups cater to a variety of interests and provide options for those interested in service, sports, arts, social activities, government, politics, cultural issues, and Greek societies. The university also offers a number of recreational sports, many offering intercollegiate play. Sports include lacrosse, rugby, soccer, wrestling, hockey, running, crew, golf, ballroom dance, and paintball. |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food - $17052 | #On campus - $10696 #Off campus (not with family) - $10696 #Off campus (with family) - $5666 |
| Famous Alumni | 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) | Peyton Manning, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Dixie Carter, actress Candace Parker, professional women's basketball player Paul Finebaum, sports author and television and radio personality Scott Kelly, astronaut |
| City Life | 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. | Sitting on the banks of the Tennessee River, Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee. But this city is more than just a college town. It's a multicultural community that embraces an array of pastimes. Downtown Knoxville is full of interesting shops like the independent Union Ave Books and the old-time Mast General Store, as well as the popular Market Square. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, both within a 90-minute drive of the city, are beautiful places to go for a hike, as is Ijams Nature Center, which is closer to downtown. Residents enjoy a cost of living that's lower than the national average, which is reflected in reasonable housing, utility and transportation costs. The average cost of a home and the average monthly rent are well below those of many other large metro areas. |
| Weather |
University of Texas at Austin vs University of Tennessee
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
The University of Texas at Austin is included among the top 100 universities globally, consistently ranking within the top public universities in the U.S. It has very strong subject reputations in Engineering (especially Computer Science, Electrical Engineering), Business (McCombs), Law, and Liberal Arts. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has solid national recognition, especially in Engineering, Agriculture, and Health Sciences, but tends to rank lower globally and has fewer programs in the top ten than UT Austin.
General Information
UT Austin is a large flagship public research university with a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, large research funding, and an extensive campus in the city of Austin. Tennessee is also a major public research university, but smaller in total enrollment, with many in-state students, strong regional ties, and solid academic resources, though generally fewer large scale global partnerships compared to UT Austin.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UT Austin has a fairly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate around 29-30%. Tennessee, Knoxville has a more moderate acceptance rate of about 46%. UT Austin typically demands higher standardized test scores, rigorous high school preparation, and strong extra-curricular profile compared to Tennessee.
Research Impact & Facilities
UT Austin is a Carnegie Doctoral/Very High Research Activity institution with very high research output, world-class facilities, substantial funding, and broad global partnerships. Tennessee also has research strength—particularly in fields like Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Health—but its international reputation and research infrastructure are not as large in scale as UT Austin.
Cost & Financial Aid
UT Austin for in-state (Texas) students has relatively lower tuition & fees compared to out-of-state/international students. Living costs, housing, books etc add significantly. Out-of-state/international students face much higher cost. Tennessee has lower tuition for in-state students, and costs for out-of-state are also lower than some of the highest tier schools, but still significant. Both universities offer financial aid, scholarships, and grants; UT Austin tends to offer more competitive merit and need-based help due to its prestige and funding.
Career Destinations & Graduates’ Success
Graduates from UT Austin tend to secure higher early-career salaries, especially in technology, business, law, and engineering, benefiting from the strong employer network, prestige, and location (Austin tech ecosystem). Tennessee graduates do well, particularly in regional industries, agriculture, engineering, health sciences, and business, but average early-career salary tends to be lower than UT Austin. UT Austin grads also tend to have somewhat greater global mobility and visibility among employers.
