Texas at Austin vs Central Florida - 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 (#45 vs #401-500). 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 Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition.
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 | Texas at Austin | Central Florida |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #45 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 26.64% | 44.71% |
| Yield rate | 47.4% | 33.5% |
| Median SAT | 1395 | 1260 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.16 |
| Number of applications | 72,885 | 55,135 |
| International students | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $58K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $51K | $39K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $86K |
| Graduation rate | 88.9% | 78% |
| Retention rate | 96.7% | 92.3% |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $18,190 |
| Tuition · year | $44,908 | $24,076 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,219 | $11,814 |
| % of need met | 75% | 65% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $19,919 | $20,529 |
| Application fee | $75 | $30 |
| Enrollment | 53,864 | 69,338 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas at Austin or Central Florida?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Texas at Austin accepts 26.64% of applicants, while Central Florida accepts 44.71%.
Do Texas at Austin or Central Florida graduates earn more?
Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Texas at Austin vs Central Florida?
Sticker-price tuition is $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin and $24,076 per year at Central Florida.
What SAT score do you need for Texas at Austin or Central Florida?
The median admitted SAT score is 1395 at Texas at Austin and 1260 at Central Florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas at Austin or Central Florida?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #45 for Texas at Austin vs #401-500 for Central Florida.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas at Austin or Central Florida?
The average aid package is $20,219 at Texas at Austin and $11,814 at Central Florida.
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