Tuition Increase FAQs

General FAQs

Tuition Increase FAQs

How much will undergraduate tuition increase?

Undergraduate tuition rates will increase by 2.6 percent per year for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, as approved by the UT System Board of Regents. This increase will apply to both resident (in-state) and non-resident (out of state) undergraduate students.

Resident undergraduate tuition, which currently averages $5,440 per semester, will increase by an average of $143 per semester in 2020-21 and $146 per semester in 2021-22.

Will tuition rates increase for graduate students?

Tuition for most master’s and doctoral programs will not be increased. The Graduate Education Task Force is continuing to work with the campus to address graduate student compensation and tuition reductions.

Programs that will see an increase in tuition include: Master’s in Professional Accounting (MPA), Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Executive and Evening MBA and International MBA. A limited number of graduate programs were already in the process of phasing in rolling tuition increases that were approved in the prior tuition setting process. Those will continue as planned.

Will students who qualify for the Texas Advance Commitment be affected?

For students who qualify for Texas Advance Commitment, the tuition increases will continue to be offset by guaranteed financial assistance.

The Texas Advance Commitment will continue to completely cover tuition and fees for students from families that have adjusted gross incomes up to $65,000 a year and who have financial need, and provide some assured tuition support to students from families with incomes of up to $125,000 who have financial need.

This commitment includes qualified students in the three colleges that will charge tuition differentials.

Are there different tuition rates for individual colleges and schools?

Yes, tuition rates will continue to vary between schools and colleges at UT Austin. In addition, some colleges and disciplines have a higher cost-of-delivery due to the investment required to deliver those educational experiences, and the Board of Regents has approved a differential tuition charge in addition to the 2.6 percent tuition increase. Those colleges are the McCombs School of Business, the Cockrell School of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences. Students in McCombs and Cockrell will pay a differential tuition of $550 per semester, and those in Natural Sciences will pay a differential tuition of $250 per semester in addition to the 2.6 percent tuition increase.

What was the process for increasing tuition?

The UT System Board of Regents instituted a new process this year to set tuition for all UT institutions. Institutions were asked by the UT System to provide information that was then used to determine a systemwide approach. The 2.6 percent increase reflects the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), an inflation index designed specifically to track the main cost drivers in higher education.

You can read a statement on tuition from UT System here.

How will the funds generated by these increases be used?

Funds generated by this increase will be invested in student success, mental health, transportation, campus WI-FI infrastructure, and operational costs and other increases in the cost of delivering education.

Will the tuition charged under the guaranteed rate plan be affected?

Longhorn Fixed Tuition, which currently locks in tuition for participants at an average of $5,841 per semester, will increase by 7 percent. This change will affect only future students who opt in to Longhorn Fixed Tuition and does not affect current students.

General FAQs

What does flat rate tuition cover?

The flat rate tuition amount covers academic program costs, including tuition, mandatory fees and charges, and college and course incidental fees.

How does traditional undergraduate flat rate tuition work?

Undergraduate flat rate is based on the student's major, residency status and the first semester the student was enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin. Tuition for one to seven hours is indexed to the number of semester credit hours taken. There is one rate for eight to 11 credit hours and a fixed rate for 12 or more credit hours.

Does it cost undergraduates more to take more hours?

The flat rate tuition amount for a full load undergraduate student is a fixed amount. The cost for any hours above 12 is the same for undergraduates. Therefore, it does not cost more to take more semester credit hours.

Why are the traditional flat rate tuition amounts different for each college?

Specific college and course services are factored into the flat rate tuition amounts. The individual college flat rate tuition amounts vary based upon the costs associated with materials or services provided in each college. View charts of flat rate tuition amounts.

What are the benefits of traditional flat rate tuition?

Flat rate tuition allows a more transparent pricing structure. Students know in advance how much their cost of education will be for any number of semester credit hours taken because there is only one tuition bill line item—flat rate tuition.

Additionally, flat rate tuition instills public accountability as total academic costs are the flat rate tuition amounts. Increases in educational costs are seen in flat tuition rates only, and not in numerous college and course fees as was the case with the previous billing structure.

Flat rate tuition also allows full load undergraduate students to take more semester course hours and not be charged an additional amount. This can reduce time to graduation, which reduces the total education costs for students and their families. This program has increased the number of hours that students take and has helped increase graduation rates.

When is my tuition due?

The payment deadline is shown on each student's My Tuition Bill page. Once there, log into the system using your EID. Payment is due before 5:00 p.m. of the day of the listed deadline or your registration will be canceled.

Can I pay my tuition in installments?

Yes, tuition can be paid in three installments during the fall and spring semesters.

The student must electronically sign a promissory note by clicking on the “Installment Plan Note” link on the My Tuition Bill website in UT Direct before a partial payment will be accepted.

The first payment is approximately half of the total tuition; it is the smaller of the two amounts showing on My Tuition Bill, and includes a non-refundable $15.00 installment fee.

Tuition installments are not avaliable for summer semesters.

Where can I mail a payment?

Make checks payable to: The University of Texas at Austin

Include the student’s name and EID on the check

All payments must be drawn on a bank within the United States of America

It is critical that you do not mail a payment to the commercial courier address through the US Postal Service

Any payment using the US Postal Service (including express mail):

The University of Texas at Austin

Student Accounts Receivable

P.O. Box 7398

Austin, TX 78713-7398

Any payment sent through a commercial courier such as FedEX, UPS, and DHL:

The University of Texas at Austin

Student Accounts Receivable; K5308

110 Inner Campus Drive; MAI 4

Austin, TX 78712

How do I pay tuition from my 529 college savings plan?

Account owners must submit a request for payment from the 529 Plan Administrator.

Allow up to three weeks for the payment to be credited to the student’s account.

The payment must be received and posted to the student’s account no later than 5:00 p.m. on the payment due date. Failure to meet this deadline will result in your student’s registration being canceled.

All checks should be made payable to “The University of Texas at Austin” and must include the student’s name and EID.

Mailing address, including overnight delivery instructions, is available at: https://financials.utexas.edu/sar/non-tuition-payments

What if I’m part of a Texas Pre-Paid Tuition Plan?

The plans pay for tuition only; the student is responsible for all other fees.

Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan (TGTP) students must provide a copy of the membership ID card to Student Accounts Receivable the first semester they enroll at The University of Texas at Austin. Students in their senior year will need to provide proof of remaining hours in their plan. TGTP ID cards can be emailed to: tuition@austin.utexas.edu (please include your UT EID in the email)

Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF) plan purchasers must authorize use of the benefits at least three weeks prior to the payment due date each semester at https://www.texastuitionpromisefund.com/. Purchasers should enter the student’s EID as the “Student’s ID” and The University of Texas at Austin as the “Name of the University/College.”

If the amount due is zero, the student must complete registration by clicking the “Confirm Attendance” button on the My Tuition Bill website no later than 5:00 p.m. on the due date or their registration will be canceled.

How do I determine Texas residency?

Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as:

A resident of Texas;

A nonresident; or

A foreign (international) student.

How you’re classified is important because it determines whether you pay non-resident tuition rates or Texas resident rates, which are lower. Being a Texas resident also qualifies you to apply for financial aid awarded by the state. You can find detailed information about determining residency here.

What is the tuition rate for international students?

International students are charged the nonresident tuition rates.

Tell me more about loans.

Tuition Loans are available online on the Tuition Loans website in UT Direct. Amounts awarded are applied directly to the tuition bill.

Cash Loans up to $500 are available. There is a limit of one loan per 30-day period.

Promissory Notes, required of both Tuition and Cash Loans, are signed electronically at the time the student requests the loan online.

Interest charged is 4% per year. Repayment is due 30-90 days from the date of the promissory note. Repayment of a tuition loan by credit card is subject to a 2.3% convenience charge.

For additional information on eligibility and other loan programs, contact the Office of Financial Aid at ask@finaid.utexas.edu.

Tell me more about tuition exemptions and waivers.

Several exemptions and waivers of tuition and fees are available. Contact Student Accounts Receivable at 512-475-7777 with questions or for more information.

What if my payment is returned?

Returned payments by check, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or eCheck (for any reason) are subject to a $25 service fee. Registration will be canceled if repayment is not received within 10 calendar days of notice.

How do I know that my payment has been received?

To verify your payment was received, go to the My Tuition Bill website in UT Direct. When your payment is posted, there will be a message on My Tuition Bill stating that “Your registration is complete and your courses are secure.”

How do I complete my registration online?

Go to the My Tuition Bill website in UT Direct and use one of the following methods to complete your registration:

eCheck – online payment by check

Electronic Funds Transfer

American Express, Discover, or MasterCard (subject to a non-refundable 2.3% convenience fee)

“Pay with Financial Aid” at the “View Bill” option of My Tuition Bill

“Confirm Attendance” at the “View Bill” option of My Tuition Bill if you have a zero bill

Tuition Loan – link to My Tuition Loan from the My Tuition Bill website

How do I complete my registration in person?

You may make a payment at the Cashier’s Office in MAI 8 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. using:

Personal check

Cashier’s check

Money order

Cash

*Credit cards are not accepted at the Cashier’s Office.