The University of Texas at Austin began when the Congress of the Republic of Texas ordered a site be set aside to meet higher education needs immediately after they achieved independence from Mexico. The Constitution of the Republic established a system of public education in the republic and, two weeks after President Mirabeau Lamar spoke to Congress about the need for education, Ezekiel Cullen filed a report containing a bill requesting 20 leagues of land be set aside for two colleges. The bill was amended to set aside 50 leagues of land with 40 acres of the new capital, Austin, to be designated as College Hill.
Nothing proceeded in building the new school in Austin until Congress established $100,000 in United States bonds left from the Compromise of 1850 to be used for the universities in 1858. The outbreak of the Civil War and Texas’ succession from the United States halted plans for the school.
After the war, the Constitution of 1876 required that a university be established soon after the adoption of the constitution. The University of Texas was created, revoking an endowment from railroad lands but appropriating one million acres in West Texas. Another two million acres was granted in 1883 with grazing rights from those lands used to fund the University of Texas and Texas A&M, which was established in 1876. The constitution mandated that the University of Texas must include Agricultural and Mechanical Departments. Pharmaceutical and Engineering were added as requirements at a later date.
Austin was chosen as the site of what was known as Main University. Construction began on the Old Main Building in 1882 on what was designated as College Hill. The school opened in 1883. Old Main was the central point of the campus and used for almost all activities at the college. In the 1930s, there was a need for a new library and Old Main was razed in 1934 under protest from students and residents. The tower and Main Building that stand today were constructed to replace Old Main.
After 500 acres of land was donated in 1910 by George Washington Brackenridge, located on the Colorado River, there was discussion about moving the campus to the new location. This decision was met with significant resistance and the legislature appropriated over $1 million to purchase land adjacent to the current campus. However, there was a constitutional restriction that would not allow the funding of building construction. In 1923, however, oil was discovered on university-owned lands. This wealth allowed the campus to build a general endowment fund to be used for expansion.
Today, the University of Texas at Austin serves more than 51,000 students, providing them with world-renowned higher education and research facilities.
University of Texas at Austin Accreditation Details
The University of Texas at Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Accreditation informs students that the University of Texas at Austin meets or exceeds qualities of excellence developed by the accrediting agency. In addition, specific programs may also be accredited by agencies who provide guidance in a particular industry.
University of Texas at Austin Application Requirements
Students must complete the ApplyTexas application and pay the applicable fee. Students must provide two essays and official high school transcripts. Students must also provide official ACT or SAT scores. Students who have earned more than 30 college credits after high school are considered transfer students. They must complete the ApplyTexas application and pay the applicable fee. In addition, they must provide two essays and transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Students must also submit a current resume.
In order to apply for graduate programs at the University of Texas at Austin must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all upper-division work as well as in any graduate work already completed. Students must provide official GRE or GMAT test scores as well. All records submitted should indicate that the student is prepared for the graduate major and must also provide letters of recommendation. Some departments may have additional admission requirements such as portfolios or samples.
University of Texas at Austin Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for undergraduate Texas residents ranges from $1,406 to $1,990 and from $5,137 to $5,615 for non-residents. Graduate tuition ranges from $1,066 to $1,279 for Texas residents and from $1,720 to $1,887 for non-residents.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study programs. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for assistance.
University of Texas at Austin Online Degree(s)
Ph.D. in Business
The University of Texas at Austin offers a Ph.D. program in business through the McCombs School of Business. Students are prepared for careers in academics through a highly-competitive program. Students choose from the following concentrations:
- Accounting – Designed for those who wish to be accounting educators or researchers. Students learn in one of the most prestigious accounting degree programs in the country.
- Finance – Students who wish to pursue careers in public policy, academia or research will benefit from a doctorate with a finance concentration. The program provides the tools necessary for pure and applied research as well as rigorous training not only in finance, but also in economics and statistics.
- Information, Risk & Operations Management – Designed for students who wish to teach and conduct research at the university level.
- Management – The Management concentration produces graduates who shape the practice of management through teaching, research and service. Students are provided a solid foundation that will allow graduates to build throughout their careers. Students develop skills to succeed in the global marketplace.
The University of Texas at Austin offers a world-class business doctorate program designed for those who wish to move into the academic field, want to advance in a current career or who want to move into a different industry. Although the program is not offered online, students may be able to complete some of the courses necessary for the degree in an online format. The University of Texas at Austin may also offer evening or weekend courses for additional flexibility.