The Cockrell School
The Cockrell School of Engineering's 255 professorial faculty, 656 staff, and 1,731 student employees serve more than 7,200 students enrolled in nine undergraduate and 13 graduate programs.
Undergraduate Program Rankings
- #9 Overall
- #2 Petroleum Engineering
- #6 Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering
- #8 Computer Engineering
- #9 Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
- #11 Mechanical Engineering
- U.S. News & World Report, 2008
Faculty Quality
Senior faculty include the fourth highest number of members in the National Academy of Engineering, the nation's highest honor for engineers.
Junior faculty have received more than 80 National Science Foundation awards for professional potential, generally considered the nation's top honor for young faculty.
The Cockrell School ranks twelfth nationally among more than 300 engineering schools for the number of Hispanic faculty.
ASEE Profiles of Engineering & Engineering Technology Colleges, 2006
Student Quality
Fall 2007 entering freshmen had an average SAT score of 1316. More than half, 70 percent, are from the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 9 percent were valedictorians or salutatorians.
Enrollment Fall 2007
Undergrad Total
5,155
Graduate Total
2,100
Undergrad Men
79%
Undergrad Women
21%
Graduate Men
81.2%
Graduate Women
18.8%
Undergrad Minorities
17.4%
Graduate Minorities
5.1%
Scholarships/Fellowships
Undergraduates enrolled in the Cockrell School in fall 2007 received a total of more than 2,500 scholarships, totaling $7.8 million. The Cockrell School awarded just over $2 million to more than 300 graduate students from endowed fellowships during 2007-2008.
Private Support
The Cockrell School of Engineering became the new name of the engineering college in July 2007 to honor more than 30 years of Cockrell family giving. That support began with the late Ernest Cockrell Jr. and the late Virginia Cockrell, 1936 graduates of petroleum engineering and kinesiology, respectively. Their vision to encourage others' gifts through their own resulted in their foundation providing $40 million, which, through matching gifts and investments, is nearing $130 million. Their legacy continues through the Cockrell Foundation and the Cockrell family, whose generous support will extend in perpetuity. This support creates a major impact in attracting outstanding faculty and students.
Degrees Awarded, 2006-2007
| Program | Bachelor's | Master's | Doctoral |
| Aerospace | 87 | 19 | 8 |
| Architectural | 43 | 2 | |
| Biomedical | 86 | 9 | 13 |
| Chemical | 104 | 6 | 25 |
| Civil | 93 | 65 | 32 |
| Electrical & Computer | 256 | 141 | 65 |
| Energy & Mineral Resources | 20 | ||
| Engineering Management | 3 | ||
| Engineering Mechanics | 3 | ||
| Environmental & Water Resources | 24 | ||
| Geosystems & Hydrogeology | 8 | ||
| Materials Science & Engineering | 14 | ||
| Mechanical | 199 | 53 | 20 |
| Operations Research & Industrial Engr. | 19 | 8 | |
| Petroleum | 73 | 34 | 1 |
| Total Degrees | 949 | 395 | 186 |
Average Annual Starting Salaries, 2006-2007
(bachelor's degree recipients, in industry)
| Aerospace Engineering | $53,975 |
| Architectural Engineering | $51,580 |
| Biomedical Engineering | $58,375 |
| Chemical Engineering | $62,789 |
| Civil Engineering | $51,802 |
| Electrical Engineering | $59,019 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,466 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $73,840 |
| Average | $59,871 |
Engineering Research Dollars Expended
| FY 2001-02 | $105.0M |
| FY 2002-03 | $111.4M |
| FY 2003-04 | $106.9M |
| FY 2004-05 | $114.9M |
| FY 2005-06 | $137.2M |
College of Engineering Operating Budget 2006-2007
Revenues $178M
Expenses $171M
Research Developments
Cockrell School faculty and more than 900 students conduct research that benefits society. Recent findings demonstrate that:
- nano-manipulation of stainless steel produces a stronger, non-corrosive metal the auto industry can use to lighten and strengthen car parts;
- a new process allows nerve tissue implants to overcome a patient’s rejection response when implanted from a donor;
- the flooding risk in New Orleans was 1,000-fold higher before Hurricane Katrina than is minimally acceptable for a major U.S. dam;
- an "off-the-shelf" remedy is feasible for reducing greenhouse gases by storing carbon dioxide underground.
Added Distinctions
- The Cockrell School awards a higher percentage of undergraduate degrees to Hispanics and African Americans than other top-ranked programs at public schools of engineering. AAES Engineering Workforce Commission, 2006
- The Cockrell School enrolled 67 new National Merit Scholars in 2006-2007, the university’s largest proportion of new National Merit Scholars. UT Austin enrolls the third highest number nationally.
- The Cockrell School has 132 named endowed chairs and professorships for faculty.
- The Cockrell School awards the third highest percentage of undergraduate degrees to women among top-ranked programs at public schools of engineering. AAES Engineering Workforce Commission, 2006
Sample of Outstanding Graduates
- Don Evans, former U.S. secretary of commerce
- Hector Ruiz, Advanced Micro Devices president, chairman and CEO
- Rex Tillerson, Exxon Mobil Corp. chairman and CEO
- James Truchard, National Instruments president and CEO
- Nine NASA astronauts
Staying in Touch
- Cockrell School of Engineering: 512-471-1166
- Cockrell School e-mail: ut@engr.utexas.edu
- Alumni address updates: alumni@engr.utexas.edu
- Student Affairs: 512-471-4321
- Career Assistance Center: 512-471-1915
- Engineering Foundation/Corporate/Alumni: 512-471-3395