What starts here changes the world. What starts here can be a new idea in the mind of a single student. What starts here can be a work of art that enriches lives or a discovery that saves them. What starts here can be a new way of doing things, a new perspective on a global challenge.

At UT, the words, “What starts here changes the world,” represent the institution's goal of fostering students to become innovators in their chosen disciplines as they create solutions and pursue various opportunities elsewhere.

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the world's leading research universities, supporting cutting-edge research in all disciplines and offering more than 200 dedicated research units and centers, ranging from the Texas Advanced Computing Center to the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.

The What Starts Here campaign is the most ambitious in the University's history. The University tagline: What starts here changes the world. Do not alter the tag by switching any other words in for “here” (“at UT,” “at our CSU”). The campaign marketing tagline: What starts here starts with you.

Texas is the leading crude oil- and natural gas-producing state in the U.S. In 2011, it also produced more cattle, sheep, hay, cotton and wool than any other state. The name Texas derives from a Caddo Indian word that means “friends” or “allies,” which was incorporated into the state motto: Friendship.

What starts here changes the world Our Tagline What starts here changes the world.

Keep Austin Weird Keep Austin Weird is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas. It is intended to promote local businesses and is inspired by comments made by Red Wassenich in 2000 while giving a pledge to an Austin radio station.

But how did the slogan “Keep Austin Weird” come to be? The phrase dates back to Red Wassenich, an Austin Community College librarian who mentioned the phrase back in 2000 while calling in a donation to KOOP Radio, per Austin History Center archives.

Modeled after those of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, that charter remains in use today, making Austin College the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under its original name and charter, as recognized by the State Historical Survey Committee.

A. In the QS World University Ranking 2024, The University of Texas at Austin has been placed at the 58 position, whereas, in 2023, it was placed at the 72 position and in 2022, the university was placed at the 67 position.

The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

General Facts

• Founded in 1849, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas under its original charter.
• North of Dallas 100-acre environmentally green campus.
• 1,138 students from 24 states, 14 countries, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• 11:1 student to faculty ratio, average class size of 16.