Central Florida vs Texas at Austin - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Texas at Austin admits 26.6% of applicants, while Central Florida admits 44.7%.
Real money goes to international students at Texas at Austin ($21,838 on average), while Central Florida stops at $928.
The tuition gap is $20,832 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $44,908.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Texas at Austin: $75K against $58K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Texas at Austin is the more selective of the two (26.64% vs 44.71% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #45). Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $44,908 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition.
Choose Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Texas at Austin is more selective (26.64% vs 44.71% acceptance); Texas at Austin has a higher median SAT (1395 vs 1260).
Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $58K); Texas at Austin has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.9% vs 78%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $44,908); Texas at Austin offers a larger average aid package ($20,219 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Texas at Austin |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #45 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 26.64% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 47.4% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1395 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | - |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 72,885 |
| International students | 3.3% | 4.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $51K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 88.9% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 96.7% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $20,500 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $44,908 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $20,219 |
| % of need met | 65% | 75% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $19,919 |
| Application fee | $30 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 53,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Texas at Austin?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Texas at Austin accepts 26.64%.
Do Central Florida or Texas at Austin graduates earn more?
Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Texas at Austin?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Texas at Austin?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1395 at Texas at Austin; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Texas at Austin?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #45 for Texas at Austin.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Texas at Austin?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $20,219 at Texas at Austin.
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