Texas at Austin vs Texas Rio Grande Valley - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Texas at Austin: 26.6% against 94.2% (Texas Rio Grande Valley).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Texas at Austin awards international students $21,838 on average, Texas Rio Grande Valley awards $6,258.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Texas Rio Grande Valley: $22,287 against $44,908, or $22,621 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Texas at Austin: $75K against $50K.
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 94.2% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#45 vs #801-900). Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $50K). Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 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 Texas Rio Grande Valley for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Texas at Austin is more selective (26.64% vs 94.2% acceptance); Texas at Austin has a higher median SAT (1395 vs 985).
Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $50K); Texas at Austin has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.9% vs 50.9%).
Texas Rio Grande Valley has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,287 vs $44,908); Texas at Austin offers a larger average aid package ($20,219 vs $11,242).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas at Austin | Texas Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #45 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 26.64% | 94.2% |
| Yield rate | 47.4% | 55.4% |
| Median SAT | 1395 | 985 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 72,885 | 12,137 |
| International students | 4.5% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $50K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $51K | $29K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $67K |
| Graduation rate | 88.9% | 50.9% |
| Retention rate | 96.7% | 78.9% |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $12,950 |
| Tuition · year | $44,908 | $22,287 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,219 | $11,242 |
| % of need met | 75% | 72% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $19,919 | $14,589 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 53,864 | 31,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas at Austin or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Texas at Austin accepts 26.64% of applicants, while Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 94.2%.
Do Texas at Austin or Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates earn more?
Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $50K.
How much is tuition at Texas at Austin vs Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Sticker-price tuition is $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin and $22,287 per year at Texas Rio Grande Valley.
What SAT score do you need for Texas at Austin or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
The median admitted SAT score is 1395 at Texas at Austin and 985 at Texas Rio Grande Valley; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas at Austin or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #45 for Texas at Austin vs #801-900 for Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas at Austin or Texas Rio Grande Valley?
The average aid package is $20,219 at Texas at Austin and $11,242 at Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern