Fortune magazine once named Austin one of the country’s top five “intellectual capitals” and it’s no wonder. Forbes has ranked Austin the third-biggest “brain magnet” city and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks the University of Texas at Austin among its “Best Values in Public Colleges” list. And according to an American Community Survey Austin ranks fifth in the number of college graduates with 45 percent of the population holding a degree.
Many of those degrees are awarded right here in Central Texas. That’s because Austin’s thriving intellectual capital attracts students from across the country and internationally to attend one of the city’s noted colleges and universities. In fact the business law and engineering schools at the University of Texas have all earned regular spots on Hispanic Business magazine’s lists of top ten schools for Hispanics.
Getting a quality education outside the area is easy too with many prestigious colleges and universities within 100 miles of Austin. These schools include Baylor University (Waco); Texas A&M University (College Station); Trinity University (San Antonio); Central Texas College (Killeen); Texas Lutheran University (Seguin); University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton); Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio); Texas State Technical College (Waco) St. Mary’s University (San Antonio); University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio); Temple College (Temple); and the University of Texas Health Science Center (San Antonio).
Add these schools to what’s already here in Austin and it’s easy to see how more than 100000 undergraduate students and more than 18000 degrees conferred each year are right here in Central Texas.
The following is an overview of Austin’s major colleges and universities including school history degree programs and enrollment tuition and fees (not including room/board) and contact information.
Austin Community College
5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin TX 78752 512-223-4ACC (4222) www.austincc.eduThe Austin Independent School District established Austin Community College in 1973. Now governed by an independent board ACC has grown to six campuses plus the Highland Business Center and Downtown Center as well as 40 teaching locations throughout Austin and surrounding areas. ACC also provides contracted training to many local high tech companies and the school’s Highland Business Center and Downtown Center are involved in the development of course work and training specifically designed for Austin industries like high tech government and manufacturing. ACC offers 235 degrees and certificates including two-year Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in 30-plus university transfer majors and Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates in more than 80 technical fields as well as an Associate of Arts in Teaching program. ACC is also the leading source of transfer students to the University of Texas-Austin and Texas State University-San Marcos and is the top choice for high school graduates and adults who enter college.
ACC enrolls more than 44000 credit students with an additional 15000 students enrolled in noncredit classes. One-year tuition and fees (30 credits) is $1740 in-district and $4980 for out-of-district tuition.
Baylor University Executive MBA
Oak Creek Plaza 3107 Oak Creek Drive Suite 240 Austin TX 78729 www.baylor.edu/AEMBABaylor University offers a 21-month Executive MBA Program in Austin admitting up to a maximum of just 40 industry professionals each year. Classes are held on Monday and Thursday evenings and the Baylor EMBA program is AACSB-accredited. Senior faculty members department chairs deans and industry leaders all have years of experience as instructors.
Baylor executive MBA graduates complete 48 credit hours over five semesters and 21 months in a curriculum designed to strengthen analytical and managerial skills. Areas of study include finance economics management accounting strategy and more. Students also take a 9-day trip for to Asia unique perspective on the global marketplace.
The cost of the Baylor Executive MBA Program in Austin for those entering in August 2011 is $73500 which includes a $2000 non-refundable deposit (the deposit is also “deferrable” for one year to include entry in fall 2012). The cost includes graduate tuition and student fees for 48 credit hours a week-long residency program in Waco (including hotel and meals) a fully-configured laptop computer and wireless Internet access all books case studies and other instructional materials a 5-day trip to Washington D.C. (including air lodging and most meals) a 9-day international trip to Asia (including lodging and most meals as well as the flight between two cities in the middle of the trip) parking and meeting facilities at the Austin campus and meals and snacks each class evening.
Concordia University
11400 Concordia University Drive Austin TX 78726 512-313-3000 www.concordia.eduConcordia University at Austin is a small private liberal arts and sciences school offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1926 Concordia University is part of the Concordia University System and focuses on quality Christ-centered Lutheran higher education for lives of service to Church and community; the school’s mission is to develop Christian leaders. Concordia is affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; however all faiths are welcome.
Concordia offers 18 undergraduate majors in four colleges: Business Education Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as a Master of Education and Master of Business Administration graduate degrees. Concordia also offers both adult degree and distance learning programs for part-time and adult returning students.
Enrollment was approximately 2100 (as of May 2011). Off-campus tuition and fees for the fall and spring semesters was $22920; room and board for the fall and spring semester was $8460; and the on-campus total for the fall and spring semesters was $31380.
Huston-Tillotson University
900 Chicon St. Austin TX 78702-2795 512-505-3000 www.htu.eduHuston-Tillotson University is an independent church-based historically black school that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church the United Church of Christ and the United Negro College Fund. The school’s mission is to “provide opportunities to a diverse population for academic achievement with an emphasis on academic excellence spiritual and ethical development civic engagement and leadership in a nurturing environment.”
The Austin campus is located on 23 acres near downtown Austin; the college also owns 12 acres of property adjacent to the campus for future expansion and development as well as a biological field station south of the city that faculty and students use for environmental research.
The school awards four-year undergraduate degrees in business education the humanities natural sciences social sciences science and technology. The general college curriculum is focused on providing “a diverse student body with an exemplary education that is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences balanced with professional development and directed to public service and leadership.”
The average class size is 24 and classes are intentionally small to provide personalized attention to students. Enrollment as of May 2011 was 785. Annual in- tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates in 2009-2010 was $11434; books and supplies were $800; on-campus room and board was $6744; and miscellaneous expenses totaled $2252.
Park University
10415 Morado Circle Avallon II Suite 100 Austin TX 78759 512-385-PARK (7275) www.park.edu (main); www.park.edu/austin (Austin campus)Founded in 1875 with its main campus in Parkville Missouri Park University is part of the University’s School for Extended Learning. An independent private Christian school offering students a four-year liberal arts education in a co-educational environment Park University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Park University has 43 campus centers in 21 states as well as an extensive online program.
The Austin campus was established in 1975 at the former Bergstrom Air Force Base founded to meet the educational needs of primarily military members and their dependents as well as civilians. That’s still the case today; the Austin campus is part of the Park University School for Extended Learning which offers online classes and flexible schedules.
Park University offers several online degree options including two-year associate of science degrees (computer science management and management/accounting); four-year bachelor of science degrees (computer science management management/accounting management/computer information systems management/human resources management/marketing and social psychology) plus six graduate programs also online.
Tuition is $316/credit hour at all campuses and $441/credit hour for graduate school. Active duty military tuition ranges from $193-$210/credit hour and the school’s nursing program is $20437 per year. Internet courses are $316/credit hour for civilians; $210/credit hour for active duty military; and $441/credit hour for online graduate courses.
St. Edward’s University
3001 S. Congress Ave. Austin TX 78704 512-448-8400 www.stedwards.eduSt. Edward’s University is a private Catholic liberal arts college that was founded in 1885 by the Reverend Edward Sorin Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross who also founded the University of Notre Dame.
St. Edward’s emphasizes critical thinking ethical practice an international perspective and a liberal arts education as well as small classes personal attention study abroad programs and service-learning opportunities. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school as one of “America’s Best Colleges” for the last eight years; Forbes and the Center for College Affordability have also named St. Edward’s among “America’s Best Colleges.”
St. Edward’s offers undergraduate degrees in more than 50 areas and five schools including humanities education natural sciences management and business and behavioral and social sciences as well as 10 graduate degree programs. The school also offers programs in pre-law pre-medicine pre-dentistry engineering and physical therapy as well as elementary secondary and bilingual/ bicultural education certifications.
Enrollment for 2011 was about 5300. The school’s full-time (12-18 credit hours) flat rate per semester for undergraduate tuition in fall 2011-spring 2012 was $14150.
Southwestern University
1001 E. University Avenue Georgetown TX 78626 512-863-6511 www.southwestern.eduLocated just 28 miles north of Austin in Georgetown Southwestern University was the first institution of higher learning in Texas chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1840. Affiliated with the United Methodist church Southwestern is an independent four-year undergraduate national liberal arts college whose mission is to “foster a liberal arts community whose values and actions encourage contributions toward the well-being of humanity.”
Southwestern was also the second university in Texas to sign the Talloires Declaration a green and sustainable practice initiative that includes a green residence hall computer-based effluent water irrigation systems alternative transportation programs use of sustainable/recycled products low/no maintenance building finishes and products low-volume shower heads and LEED certification on new construction projects.
The school is known for its solid liberal arts curriculum including the Brown College of Arts and Sciences and the Sarofim School of Fine Arts. The university also has pre-professional programs in engineering medicine law business education and theology.
Degrees offered include a bachelor of arts bachelor of science bachelor of music and bachelor of fine arts; no graduate degrees or programs are offered. Enrollment as of 2010-2011 was 1301 and annual tuition and fees for full-time students (12 credit hours) was $31630.
Texas State University – San Marcos
601 University Drive San Marcos TX 78666 512-245-2111 www.txstate.eduTexas State University is located in San Marcos – a scenic Hill Country community about halfway between Austin and San Antonio on the San Marcos River. Formerly known as Southwest Texas State University the school was founded in 1899 as Southwest Texas Normal College in response to the state’s need for trained public school teachers. The school changed its name to Texas State University – San Marcos in 2003 and is the fifth-largest public university in Texas with more than 32000 students (including about 4300 graduate students).
Texas State is also an NCAA Division I university (Division I-AA in football; 2005 Southland Conference champions) that supports 7 men’s and 9 women’s sports. The school has also been a regular on U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” list for the last several years.
The school offers 97 bachelor’s 89 master’s and nine doctoral degree programs in nine colleges including applied arts business administration education fine arts and communication health professions liberal arts science University College (general studies) and the Graduate College. Full-time (12 hours) in-state undergraduate tuition and fees for fall 2010 was $3390; full-time in-state graduate tuition and fees for fall 2010 was $3900.
University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station Austin TX 78712 512-475-7348 www.utexas.eduFounded in 1883 the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is the largest component of The University of Texas System – a conglomerate of 15 academic and health institutions – and the largest institution of higher education in the Austin area. With more than 51000 students (including 11000 graduate students) and about 24000 faculty and staff members UT is one of the largest public universities in the U.S.
UT Austin offers more than 170 fields of study and 100 majors across undergraduate and graduate programs in 17 colleges and schools awarding more than 12000 degrees each year – including more than 8700 bachelor’s degree and 3500-plus graduate degrees. Enrollment as of fall 2010 was 51195 and annual tuition and fees were $8936 for in-state undergraduate students.
Besides top-notch research facilities including the fifth-largest academic library in the country UT Austin is also famous for Longhorns’ sports and is a member of both the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. In football UT’s a winner of four national titles (1963 1969 1970 and 2005) and ranks third in NCAA all-time victories.
