Skip to content

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley vs The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public university in Edinburg, TX, and The University of Texas at Austin is a public university in Austin, TX. The University of Texas at Austin is the more selective of the two, admitting about 27% of applicants against 94% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is the cheaper of the two after aid, averaging about $4,831 a year against $19,857 at The University of Texas at Austin. About 88% of students graduate at The University of Texas at Austin, compared with 50% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Ten years after enrolling, The University of Texas at Austin alumni earn a median of about $75,121, against $49,620 for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public
At a glance
Type
Public
Public
Location
Edinburg, TX
Austin, TX
Setting
Urban
Urban
Undergraduates
28,666
42,855
Acceptance rate
94%
27%
Admissions
GPA (admitted)
3.08–3.58
3.46–4
SAT (middle 50%)
880–1090
1250–1510
ACT (middle 50%)
15–21
27–33
Test policy
Test optional
Required
Cost
Avg net price / yr
$4,831
$19,857
Full cost / yr
$16,830
$31,247
In-state tuition
$9,987
$11,688
Out-of-state tuition
$19,827
$44,908
Application fee
Not reported
$75
Net price by family income
Family income under $30k
$3,785
$12,553
$30k - $48k
$3,877
$14,297
$48k - $75k
$5,665
$17,207
$75k - $110k
$7,972
$24,406
Over $110k
$13,782
$30,082
Outcomes
Graduation rate
50%
88%
Freshman retention
81%
97%
Median earnings (6 yr)
$35,812
$60,896
Median earnings (10 yr)
$49,620
$75,121
Median debt at graduation
$12,950
$20,500
Student body
Pell grant recipients
65%
26%
First-generation students
53%
28%
International students
2%
4%
Deadlines
Early decision
Not reported
Not reported
Early action
Not reported
Oct 15
Regular decision
May 1
Dec 1

Net price is the average across aided students (U.S. College Scorecard). Your actual cost and admission odds depend on your profile. Take the free Matchmaker for your own numbers.

Frequently asked questions
Is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin harder to get into?
The University of Texas at Austin is harder to get into. It admits about 27% of applicants, compared with 94% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Your own odds and price depend on your profile, so take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see your numbers at both.
Which is cheaper, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin?
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is cheaper on average. Students pay about $4,831 a year after grants and scholarships, against about $19,857 at The University of Texas at Austin. Your own odds and price depend on your profile, so take Blueprint's free Matchmaker to see your numbers at both.
What is the full cost of attendance at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and The University of Texas at Austin?
Before aid, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley costs about $16,830 a year and The University of Texas at Austin about $31,247. That is the sticker price; most students pay less once grants and scholarships are applied.
Which is cheaper for a family earning under $30,000, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin?
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Families earning under $30,000 a year pay about $3,785 there, against about $12,553 at The University of Texas at Austin. Aid is income-tested, so this can differ from the average price and from the sticker price.
Which is bigger, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin?
The University of Texas at Austin is the larger of the two, with about 42,855 undergraduates against 28,666 at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Does The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin have a better graduation rate?
The University of Texas at Austin has the higher graduation rate, at about 88% against 50% at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Do graduates of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or The University of Texas at Austin earn more?
The University of Texas at Austin alumni earn more on average: a median of about $75,121 ten years after enrolling, against about $49,620 for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Earnings vary far more by major than by school.
Do The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and The University of Texas at Austin require SAT or ACT scores?
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is test optional, so scores are considered only if you choose to send them. The University of Texas at Austin requires SAT or ACT scores.
What SAT scores do The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and The University of Texas at Austin look for?
The middle 50% of admitted students score 880–1090 at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and 1250–1510 at The University of Texas at Austin. A quarter of admitted students scored below those ranges.

Related comparisons

Which of these is the better fit for you?

These lists are a great start, but the one list that actually matters is yours. Blueprint builds it in two free steps.

1 Discovery quiz: find your major2 Matchmaker: your odds + net price at every school