The Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas Austin was founded in 1883 as the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It was initially housed in the Main Building and had just two faculty members and 23 students. In its first year, it offered three courses: Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Design. Over the years, more departments were added to the school including Electrical Engineering in 1891, Civil Engineering in 1901, and Architectural Engineering in 1908.
In 1915, civil engineering professor William Ward Watkin led a major expansion of the engineering program with an emphasis on research and advanced instruction. This effort would eventually lead to the creation of the College of Engineering which received its charter from the state legislature in 1920. The college was renamed Cockrell School of Engineering in 2007 to honor brothers Ernest Cockrell Jr., an alumnus who donated $50 million to support student scholarships and faculty endowments, and Robert C. Cockrell who served as a professor at UT Austin for many years.
Today, the Cockrell School of Engineering is one of UT Austin’s most highly ranked programs with top-tier faculty members from around the world teaching thousands of undergraduate students each year. The school offers over 20 degree programs ranging from aerospace engineering to petroleum engineering as well as graduate degrees such as master’s and doctoral degrees in various disciplines like robotics or nanotechnology. Research is also a major focus for students at Cockrell with many opportunities for undergraduates to participate in groundbreaking projects alongside their professors.
As one of the best engineering schools in the state of Texas, University of Texas Austin Cockrell School of Engineering has reported the following admissions statistics, including the acceptance rate, average GPA/GRE scores, and minimum TOEFL scores for iBT and paper test. Also covered is overall rankings and tuition scholarship information for University of Texas Austin Cockrell School of Engineering.
The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering is one of the top engineering schools in the country. According to US News & World Report, it is ranked as the 11th best undergraduate engineering program in the nation. The school admits approximately 10,000 students annually, and over 4,000 apply for admission each year. The average acceptance rate for the school is about 30%, with a range from 20-40%. The average GPA for admitted students is around 3.7, with an SAT score of approximately 1330-1490 and an ACT score of 28-33. The school also has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, with over 33% of enrolled students coming from historically underrepresented groups such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, international students and first-generation college students. Additionally, women make up nearly 40% of the student body at UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering.
Fall 2022 Admissions Statistics
Total applicants (master’s and Ph.D.)
4,945
Total acceptances (master’s and Ph.D.)
1,153
Overall acceptance rate
23.3%
Fall 2022 Admissions Information
Application deadline for U.S. residents
rolling
Application fee for U.S. residents
$50
Application deadline for international students
N/A
Application fee for international students
$75
Director of admissions
Patricia Ellison
2022 Entering Class GPA and GRE Scores
GRE required?
The GRE is required for all departments.
Average GPA of new entrants in master’s program
3.50
Number reporting GPA for master’s programs
267
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
547
Number reporting verbal GRE score for master’s programs
437
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
754
Number reporting quantitative GRE score for master’s programs
437
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in master’s program
4.20
Number reporting writing GRE score for master’s programs
436
Average GPA of new entrants in doctoral program
3.80
Number reporting GPA for doctoral programs
27
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
519
Number reporting verbal GRE score for doctoral programs
93
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
782
Number reporting quantitative GRE score for doctoral programs
93
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in doctoral program
3.69
Number reporting writing GRE score for doctoral programs
90
Average GPA of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
3.60
Number reporting GPA for both master’s and doctoral programs
294
Average verbal GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
542
Number reporting verbal GRE score for both master’s and doctoral programs
530
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
759
Number reporting quantitative GRE scores for master’s and doctoral programs
530
Average writing GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
4.11
Number reporting writing GRE score for both master’s and doctoral programs
526
TOEFL
TOEFL required for international students?
Yes
Minimum TOEFL score required for computer test
213
Minimum TOEFL score required for paper test
550
Ranking: University of Texas–Austin (Cockrell)
The University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering is ranked among the best engineering schools in the world. According to U.S. News & World Report, the school was ranked No. 10 overall in their 2021 rankings and No. 8 among public universities for its undergraduate engineering program. The school has also been highly ranked for its graduate programs, ranking No. 11 overall and No. 8 among public universities according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 rankings. Additionally, the Cockrell School of Engineering has been consistently ranked as one of the top 25 engineering schools globally by QS World University Rankings, with a current ranking of No. 22 in 2020/2021 and No 21 in 2019/2020 rankings respectively. The school also ranks highly for specific disciplines such as computer science and electrical engineering; it was ranked 19th for computer science and 18th for electrical engineering by QS World University Rankings 2020/2021 and 2019/2020 respectively.
The Cockrell School of Engineering is also well-known for its research capabilities, particularly in areas such as energy technology, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and aerospace engineering; it was recently named one of the top 10 research universities by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Additionally, the school is home to some renowned research centers such as the Center for Space Research (CSR), Institute for Fusion Studies (IFS) and Center for Electromechanics (CEM). The Cockrell School of Engineering also prides itself on providing a supportive environment that encourages students to pursue their passions; it offers a variety of internships and research opportunities that allow students to explore their interests while gaining valuable experience in their field before entering the workforce after graduation.
Top Engineering Schools
Score
74
Peer assessment score (5.0 highest)
4.3
Recruiter assessment score (5.0 highest)
4.0
Average quantitative GRE score of new entrants in both master’s and doctoral programs
759
Overall acceptance rate
23.3%
2020 Ph.D. student/faculty ratio
3.4
Faculty membership in National Academy of Engineering
8.3%
2020 Engineering school research expenditures (in millions)
$143.9
Research expenditures per faculty member (in thousands)
$589.6
2020 Ph.D.’s granted
199
Total graduate engineering enrollment
2,099
Tuition & Financial Aid: University of Texas–Austin (Cockrell)
Financial Aid Contact Information
Financial aid director
Thomas Melecki
Financial aid phone
(512) 475-6282
2022-2023 Expenses
Tuition
In-state, full-time: $7,740 per year; Out-of-state, full-time: $14,704 per year
