The University of Texas at Austin's Master of Science in Computer Science, housed in the College of Natural Sciences' Department of Computer Science, is one of the most selective and sought-after graduate CS programs in the country — a status reinforced by Austin's position as a major US tech hub, with Tesla, Oracle, Apple, and a dense startup ecosystem sitting minutes from campus and feeding directly into the department's recruiting pipeline. This guide covers what it takes to get in, what it costs, and where graduates end up.
UT Austin MS Computer Science Acceptance Rate
UT Austin does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for its MS in Computer Science. The university's Graduate School is decentralized, with each department — including Computer Science — setting its own admissions policy and not releasing an official aggregate admit-rate figure.
| Metric | Figure | Source/Note |
|---|---|---|
| UT Austin undergraduate acceptance rate (university-wide) | 29.1% | Official proxy only — not CS-specific, and UT Austin's own data explicitly flags Computer Science as considerably more selective than this baseline |
| UT Austin graduate acceptance rate (university-wide) | Not published | Decentralized by department |
| MS Computer Science acceptance rate | Not published | Widely regarded as one of the most competitive CS master's programs in the US |
Honest read: UT Austin's own admissions guidance is unusually explicit on this point: the university-wide 29.1% figure "understates the difficulty" of its most competitive colleges, and names Computer Science specifically (alongside McCombs Business) as reviewed separately and far more selectively than the general applicant pool. No verified MS CS acceptance percentage is published, but given UT Austin CS's consistent top-10 US News graduate CS ranking and Austin's tech-hub gravity, applicants should assume this program is considerably more selective than even the undergraduate CS admit rate — closer to the single digits typical of top-10 US computer science graduate programs. Treat any specific percentage cited elsewhere without an official UT Austin CS source as unverified.
UT Austin MS Computer Science Fees and Cost of Attendance
UT Austin's graduate-specific cost figures were not confirmed in official sources at time of research, so this section uses UT Austin's confirmed undergraduate international/non-resident figures as a directional reference, since graduate non-resident tuition at UT Austin is typically set at a comparable or higher rate (especially for Computer Science, which often carries differential tuition).
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Non-resident/international tuition (undergraduate base, for reference) | $42,554–$51,106 (range depending on college; CS typically toward the higher end) |
| Total cost of attendance (undergraduate base, for reference) | $64,204–$72,916 |
| Living expenses (undergraduate base, for reference) | ~$21,650 |
| Application fee | Not published specifically for graduate; undergraduate fee is $90 with no international fee waiver |
Confirm directly with UT Austin's Computer Science graduate program and the Graduate School for the exact current MS CS tuition figure, since it is set at the program level and not published as one official university-wide number in the sources reviewed for this guide.
Admission Requirements for UT Austin MS Computer Science
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum GPA | Not published as a single number; strong record in computer science, mathematics, or a closely related quantitative field expected |
| GRE/GMAT | Policy set independently by the Computer Science graduate program, not a single university-wide rule — confirm current requirement directly |
| Application fee | Not confirmed for graduate; check with the CS department |
| Intake | Commonly Fall; deadlines and decisions set independently by the department |
Documents required:
- Statement of purpose (program-specific)
- Letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- CV/resume
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL/IELTS) unless waived
- GRE scores if required by the CS program's current policy
Given UT Austin CS's selectivity, a strong applicant profile typically includes a computer science or closely related engineering/math undergraduate degree, demonstrated research or substantial project experience, and — where required — a competitive GRE Quantitative score, since the program draws from a very deep global applicant pool.
How to Get Into UT Austin's MS Computer Science Program
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Treat UT Austin CS as a top-10 program, not a state-flagship average. UT Austin's own materials explicitly warn that Computer Science is reviewed far more selectively than the university-wide numbers suggest. Build your SOP, recommendations, and research fit narrative to the standard of a nationally top-ranked CS department.
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Name a specific research area or faculty fit. UT Austin CS has strength across AI/ML, systems, theory, robotics, and security, among others. A statement of purpose that names a specific subfield — and ideally specific UT Austin CS faculty whose work aligns with your interests — signals genuine fit far more than a general "I love computer science" narrative.
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Use Austin's tech ecosystem as a talking point where genuine. If your goals involve product engineering, startups, or the kind of company presence Austin specifically offers (Tesla, Oracle, Apple, and a dense local startup scene), connecting your post-degree plans to that ecosystem can strengthen your "why UT Austin" answer — but only if it's authentic to your background, not generic.
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Confirm GRE policy for the current cycle before deciding whether to submit. Because UT Austin's Graduate School doesn't set one university-wide testing rule, CS's own current policy (required, optional, or not accepted) should be confirmed directly rather than assumed from general Graduate School guidance.
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Budget real prep time for English-test scores. UT Austin's own recommended prep window for undergraduate applicants is around 10 weeks of structured preparation — a useful floor for graduate applicants too, especially since UT Austin's undergraduate English-proficiency threshold (IELTS 6.5/TOEFL 79) is comparatively moderate but graduate CS programs often expect scores well above the minimum in practice.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL) for UT Austin MS CS
UT Austin's Graduate School does not publish one confirmed university-wide English-proficiency minimum for graduate programs — thresholds are set at the program level, and Computer Science's specific current figure should be confirmed directly with the department.
| Test | UT Austin undergraduate minimum (reference point) | Graduate policy |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall | Not published university-wide; confirm CS program's specific minimum |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 overall (or 4 on ETS's new 1–6 CEFR-aligned scale, for tests from Jan 21, 2026 onward) | Not published university-wide; confirm CS program's specific minimum |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 (undergraduate) | Confirm graduate acceptance and minimum with the CS department |
| PTE Academic | Not accepted at undergraduate level | Confirm with CS department directly |
Exemptions generally apply if you are a citizen of, and were educated in, a country where English is the sole official and primary conversational language (including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK), or if you completed at least three years of high school instruction in the US or a qualifying English-speaking country's system — confirm whether the same exemption logic applies to your specific graduate program.
Career Outcomes After UT Austin MS Computer Science
UT Austin does not publish a program-specific graduate employment rate or average starting salary for MS Computer Science in its own dataset, but the university's undergraduate-level top recruiters — heavily weighted toward Austin's own tech ecosystem — are a strong directional signal, since the same employers recruit heavily from UT Austin's graduate CS program as well.
Top recruiters (UT Austin, university-wide):
- Tesla
- Apple
- Oracle
- Deloitte
- ExxonMobil
- Dell Technologies
UT Austin CS graduates benefit directly from Austin's dense local tech presence — Tesla, Oracle, and Apple all maintain large local offices — alongside the broader national pull of a top-10-ranked CS program for FAANG-adjacent and Bay Area tech recruiting.
FAQ
Does UT Austin publish a separate acceptance rate for MS Computer Science? No. UT Austin's Graduate School is decentralized by department, and Computer Science does not release an official aggregate acceptance rate. UT Austin's own admissions materials explicitly state that CS is reviewed far more selectively than the 29.1% university-wide undergraduate figure, which should not be used as a CS-specific proxy.
Is the GRE required for UT Austin MS Computer Science? It depends on current departmental policy — UT Austin's Graduate School does not set one university-wide GRE rule, so confirm directly with the Computer Science graduate program for the current cycle.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for UT Austin MS Computer Science? UT Austin's undergraduate minimums (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79) are a reference point, but the Graduate School does not publish one confirmed university-wide graduate minimum — Computer Science sets its own threshold, which you should confirm directly with the department.
How much does UT Austin's MS Computer Science cost? An exact graduate-specific figure wasn't officially confirmed in this research; UT Austin's undergraduate non-resident/international tuition runs $42,554–$51,106/year with total cost of attendance of $64,204–$72,916/year as a directional reference, since CS typically carries tuition toward the higher end of the range.
Why is UT Austin Computer Science so competitive? UT Austin CS consistently ranks among the top 10 US graduate computer science programs, and Austin's status as a major tech hub (Tesla, Oracle, Apple, and a dense startup ecosystem all sit minutes from campus) drives an unusually large and strong global applicant pool relative to available seats.
Which companies recruit UT Austin CS graduates? Tesla, Apple, Oracle, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, and Dell Technologies are among UT Austin's top recruiters university-wide, with especially strong local hiring given Austin's dense tech-employer presence.