University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin (often referred to as The University of Texas, UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a doctoral/research university located in Austin, Texas. It is the flagship institution of The University of Texas System.

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest public universities in the United States. Founded in 1883, the university has grown from a single building, eight teachers, two departments and 221 students to a 350-acre main campus with 21,000 faculty and staff, 16 colleges and schools and almost 50,000 students.

The university’s reach goes far beyond the borders of the main campus with satellite campuses and research centers across Texas, including the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, the Marine Science Institute, the McDonald Observatory, the Montopolis Research Center and the Brackenridge tract.

With an enrollment of 11,000 students and more than 3,500 master’s and doctor’s degrees awarded annually, the graduate school is a national leader in graduate degrees awarded and one of the largest graduate schools in the nation.

More than 8,700 bachelor’s degrees are awarded annually in more than 170 fields of study and 100 majors.

The university has one of the most diverse student populations in the country and is a national leader in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to minority students.

The main campus is located less than a mile from the Texas State Capitol in Austin. According to The Public Ivies: America's Flagship Public Universities (2001) by Howard and Matthew Greene, The University of Texas at Austin is one of America's "Public Ivy" institutions of higher education, defined by the authors as a public institution that "provides an Ivy League collegiate experience at a public school price."

The university also operates various auxiliary facilities aside from the main campus, most notably the J. J. Pickle Research Campus. Texas is a major center for academic research, annually exceeding $380 million in funding. In addition, the university's athletic programs were recognized by Sports Illustrated, which dubbed UT "America's Best Sports College" in 2002.

with more than 3,500 research projects, 90 research units and annual research funding exceeding $400 million, The University of Texas at Austin is one of the nation’s leading public research universities.

More than 400 patents have been awarded to the university since its inception. Licensing deals generate more than $5 million annually for the university.

From making detailed measurements of the Earth’s gravity field, developing nanospheres to more effectively deliver drugs inside the human body, documenting global warming and creating devices to quickly and effectively test AIDS patients, researchers at the university work to address important social issues and problems and improve the human condition.

The University of Texas at Austin helps build a strong regional economy and provides an educated workforce for Central Texas. Its museums, libraries and athletic facilities serve the local community and the seven million tourists that visit Austin each year. The university transforms people. And those people, in turn, change the world.

The UT Tower has been the university’s most recognizable landmark and symbol since it was completed in 1937. At 307 feet, the 27-floor Tower can be seen from almost any location in Austin.

Bevo, a Texas longhorn, has been the school’s mascot since 1916. The longhorn represents the pride and tradition of the university.

Created in 1955 by head cheerleader Harley Clark Jr., the Hook ’em Horns hand signal is recognized worldwide as the symbol of the Texas Longhorns.

“The Eyes of Texas,” the official alma mater of The University of Texas at Austin, was written by John Sinclair in 1903.

The Longhorn Band, often referred to as “The Showband of the Southwest,” is one of the nation’s most recognized and celebrated marching bands. In addition to performing at athletic events, the band is an ambassador for the university and the state, performing for U.S. presidents, at Super Bowls and National Football League games.

The university is annually ranked among the country’s very best public research universities and many of its colleges, schools and departments are considered among the finest in the nation. Because of its high academic quality and relatively low cost, the university is consistently cited as one of the best values in American higher education by publications such as the Fiske Guide to Colleges, the Princeton Review and the Kiplinger Business Magazine.

The Times of London, in a 2004 survey of colleges and universities around the world, ranked The University of Texas at Austin the 15th-best university in the world.

In the latest survey by the National Research Council, seven doctoral programs ranked in the top 10 in the nation, and 22 departments ranked in the top 25. Among Texas colleges and universities, The University of Texas at Austin ranked No. 1 in 30 of the 37 fields in which it was evaluated.

The University of Texas at Austin ranked 51st in the 2007 THES - QS World University Ranking

The University of Texas at Austin ranked 70th in the 2008 THES - QS World University Ranking

The University of Texas at Austin ranked 76th in the 2009 THES - QS World University Ranking

The University of Texas at Austin ranked 67th in the 2010 QS World University Ranking

The University of Texas at Austin ranked 76th in the 2011 QS World University Ranking