Why the Cockrell School?

Considering graduate school? Your choice of a graduate program will depend on many factors, from the faculty to research opportunities, career outlook, and even physical location and community amenities.

The Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Austin, Texas community have much to offer engineering graduate students. We've provided information here about some of the key factors that attract top-notch graduate students to the Cockrell School. Keep reading to find out how graduate study here can help you build a better future.

Strategic Research Priorities

Five Strategic Research Priorities drive the Cockrell School of Engineering's research excellence in addressing major societal-scale challenges and guide its mission to create and distribute knowledge and educate leaders. These are:

• Sustainable Energy
• Engineering Human Health Care
• Manufacturing and Design Innovation
• Sustainable and Secure Infrastructure
• Space and Earth Engineering

With a variety of graduate programs and degree options, the Cockrell School of Engineering offers the chance to explore cutting edge research, working side by side with world-renowned faculty.  The Cockrell School's 25 research centers and affiliated research units provide opportunities to conduct discipline-specific as well as collaborative and interdisciplinary research. More than 30 current faculty members have been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Engineering, and since 2005, more than 20 Assistant Professors have received the prestigious NSF CAREER award.  On average, research expenditures for the Cockrell School of Engineering total more than $150 million per year. 

Rankings

In the latest US News & World Report rankings, the Cockrell School of Engineering is ranked 9th among more than 195 graduate engineering schools offering doctoral degrees in the United States. 

The majority of Cockrell School graduate programs are ranked in the top 10 of their respective disciplines, and all of our graduate programs are ranked in the top 20.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

A graduate degree from the Cockrell School of Engineering opens doors to national and global positions in academia, industry, entrepreneurship, the non-profit sector and governmental agencies.For instance, in the past five years, 160 Cockrell School Ph.D. graduates began tenure-track positions at 75 U.S. schools and 47 international schools in 24 countries.

A Cockrell School graduate degree is also a smart investment.  The mean starting salaries for UT engineering master's and doctoral degree graduates from 2008-09 are higher than the national averages reported to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey.

Financial Support Opportunities

To recruit the best and the brightest, the Cockrell School is committed to supporting graduate students at levels equal to or higher than its peer schools.  Two primary forms of graduate student support are offered:  Research Assistantships (RAs) and Teaching Assistantships (TAs).  Each provides a competitive salary and valuable benefits, including tuition coverage and health insurance.  The application process and the number of RAs and TAs vary by graduate program. For more information, contact the graduate coordinator in the program to which you are applying.

Last year the Cockrell School of Engineering provided more than $3.1 million in fellowship support. The Engineering Scholarship Program has more information about available fellowships.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Attending graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin remains an excellent value, with a significant return on your investment. Tuition costs are lower or comparable to peer schools, and in addition, University of Texas master's and doctoral degree graduates receive higher starting salaries than the national average.  

Be sure to check out the extensive information about tuition and living costs provided by The University of Texas Graduate School.

Living in Austin

Austin, Texas offers all the amenities of a large metropolitan center, but in addition, has a unique sense of community and an atmosphere unlike any other city.   

Austin offers culture, sports, recreation, music, diversity, wildlife, arts, history, industry, and a vibrant entrepreneur community. A great place for young adults, it is also an excellent place to raise a family in friendly neighborhoods with top schools. The beautiful Texas Hill Country offers a temperate climate with mild winters.

Learn more about and explore Austin on these web sites: 

• Living in Austin
• Around Austin
• Everything Austin
• Cost of Living in Austin