The University of Texas at Austin is routinely lauded as an elite university in well-known academic rankings like the U.S. News and World Report survey, which places UT as the #17 public university and names 30 graduate programs to the top-15 nationally.
But UT is about more than just academic rigor. Student life, the Austin community, cultural resources, athletics and health and wellness all contribute to the university’s character.
And because people can’t seem to get enough of lists, there is a ranking out there for just about every aspect of college life. We rounded up some that show what UT offers outside the classroom. Click on the headlines for more information about each ranking.
According to College Prowler, 9.7 out of 10 UT students said they would enroll all over again, reports the Alcalde blog.
According to a University Health Services survey, 88 percent of University Health Services (UHS) patients report that their UHS visit helped prevent their health concern from becoming a barrier to their academic performance. There were 37,509 student interactions with the Health Promotion Resource Center in 2012-13.
#10 Most Intelligent College Town
“Possibly the hippest, most intelligent town in the southern U.S., Austin is very notable for being a hot center for students and young professionals in their 20s and 30s,” writes the website ZoomTens. “The University of Texas at Austin has not only many of the brightest young students throughout the entire state and country, it also graduates thousands of people with diverse training skills, including engineering and computer science. … Previously ranked as the no. 1 overall college town by The Travel Channel, Austin is also known as being the premiere hotspot for intellectual young entrepreneurs. Indeed, young graduates of UT Austin and other residents of the town are consistently starting up some of the most successful businesses nationally and internationally.”
#21 Best Value Among Public Universities
Fiscal year 2012-13 undergraduate resident tuition and fees at UT Austin ranked second-lowest out of a 12-institution national comparison group.
Top 11 Coolest College Recreation Centers
According to a Recreational Sports survey:
- 89 percent of students participate in at least one aspect of Recreational Sports
- 92 percent of students say Recreational Sports contributed to their quality of life
#8 Gluten-Free Accommodating Universities
Gluten-free friendly options are available at all Division of Housing and Food Services dining and market venues on campus and students take notice. Sophomore Cailin Rosborough actually met with DHFS registered dietitian Lindsay Wilson to discuss her gluten intolerance and food allergies before deciding to attend UT.
“She sat down with us and answered any and all questions that we had,” says Rosborough. “She worked tirelessly to help me finalize a diet plan that suited my needs, as well as providing me with a ‘normal’ college dining experience.”
UT was also named one of the 25 healthiest colleges in the U.S. by Greatist.com.
#10 University Worldwide for Producing VC-Backed Entrepreneurs
The PitchBook blog reports that from 2009 through July 2014, 150 UT undergraduate alumni company founders received more than $1.2 million in venture capital funding, placing the Longhorns in the top-10 with Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT and Harvard.
#20 for Civic Engagement, Social Mobility and Research
#1 Campus in Texas Worth Traveling For
The FlipKey blog, by TripAdvisor, named UT as the university in the State of Texas to visit, picking the Harry Ransom Center as the must-see attraction on the 40 Acres.
The Ransom Center was selected because it “advances the study of the arts and humanities by acquiring, preserving and making accessible original cultural materials. It also features the world’s oldest photograph.”
#1 Most Influential University on Twitter
10 Things You Need to Know About @UTSystem’s Next Chancellor http://t.co/4P6LcejF0O pic.twitter.com/ilFGbtEWCt
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) July 30, 2014
Top 20 Coolest College Radio Station
Writes Men’s Health, “Playing host to major festivals like Austin City Limits and South By Southwest, Austin is a music lover’s town. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that it’s also home to one of the best college radio stations in the country. KVRX is candid about what to expect- ‘none of the hits, all of the time.'”
#17 Worldwide for Producing Millionaires
#8 Most Engaged College Football Fan Base
#3 (Among Large Schools) Best and Most Collaborative College
And finally, it’s worth pointing out that UT has been receiving kudos for more than a century. A recently discovered U.S. Bureau of Education report from 1911 classified the university as “Class I,” the highest ranking available.
