University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas, better known as UT Dallas, is a branch of the University of Texas that has a large campus that is just 20 minutes away from Dallas. Though the state of Texas took over the operations of the school in 1969, it actually existed for nearly two decades. It functioned as a small research institute before becoming the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest in the early 1960s. Once the state took over its operations, it quickly established it as part of the UT system and gave it the name the University of Texas at Dallas.

Also called UTD, it has a strong reputation as one of the best colleges in the state. Washington Monthly ranked it within the top 100 of all American colleges, and both ARWU and U.S. News & World Report also ranked it on a national level. ARWU, Times and QS all rank UTD as one of the world's best colleges. Some of the UT Dallas program that rank nationally include its programs in computer science and computer engineering as well as its MBA program. The university also ranks as a highly affordable school for both state residents and nonresidents. Between the students taking classes on its campus and its online programs, the university's enrollment tops 26,000 students.

University of Texas at Dallas Accreditation Details

The University of Texas at Dallas is one of several colleges in the south with regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Students attending a university with this type of accreditation know that they can more easily transfer the credits they earned from another college or transfer from a UTD program to a program offered at another college. It also allows students to use the FAFSA to apply for financial aid.

Six professional organizations and agencies granted accreditation to some of the programs offered by UT Dallas too. All its business programs have accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), including its professional and online MBA programs. It has accreditation for its computer science, technology and engineering programs from the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET), and the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center accredited its project management program. UT Dallas also has accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and the American Chemical Society.

University of Texas at Dallas Application Requirements

UT Dallas offers regular acceptance and priority acceptance. The deadline for students enrolling in the fall who want priority acceptance is January 1, but all other students have until May 1 to complete their application for the fall semester. There is also a $50 fee due at the time the student submits the application. Though the university may accept applications after the deadline, based on the amount of space available, this fee will increase to $125 once the deadline passes. The online application allows prospective students to create their own individual accounts to work on that application.

Those enrolling in one of its MBA programs must submit an official college transcript that clearly shows the student completed a bachelor's degree. Though students may submit an unofficial transcript as part of the application, the university will need an official transcript before the student can enroll. Students must submit a GRE or GMAT score from within the last five years and a letter of recommendation that comes from a former or current employer or supervisor. Students must also submit a resume and a personal statement or essay. They can submit both through the online application system.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students enrolling in the UT Dallas online MBA program will pay a little over $1,300 per credit hour. After factoring in the cost of technology and other fees, students spend around $45,000 to complete the entire program, which takes most students two years. This is slightly less than the average cost for completing an MBA program. UT Dallas also uses a guaranteed tuition rate, which means that the cost will not increase while students remain in the program.

Though online students typically qualify for less financial aid than more traditional students do, those attending the UTD MBA program online can use the FAFSA to find out if they qualify for any aid. There are some grant programs that graduate students can take advantage of as well as loans. The government offers unsubsidized student loans that begin accumulating interest while the student is still in graduate schools, but these loans often have a lower interest rate. Both part-time and full-time online graduate students can also apply for alternative loans. Depending on their credit scores, they may need to apply with a cosigner to get a better interest rate.

Online MBA

The University of Texas Dallas offers a number of flexible MBA programs for students currently working in the business field and those who want to work for major corporations. One is an evening cohort program that lets students take longer classes that meet at night in the middle of the weekend. Another is its flex program, which allows students to take both night classes and weekend classes. Those who have less time available may prefer its online MBA program, which offers only online classes. This program gives students the freedom to take classes while at work or on breaks from work and to work on weekends too. The university typically admits around 50 students into this program every year. Those students have an average of six to seven years of professional experience and a minimum undergrad GPA in the 3.4 range.

Related Resource: 50 Best Graduate Research Institutes

Online MBA students spend 24 months in the program and take a minimum of 53 credits of classes. Those courses include 12 classes that make up the business core. Students take operations management, financial management, global business, marketing management and similar courses that give them a better understanding of the current business market. They can also pick a concentration in accounting, information systems and operations management, marketing, organizations or strategy and international management. Students will take three or more courses in their concentration area. The University of Texas Dallas recommends that students check the online course schedule to see which courses in their concentration are available before they register for the upcoming semester.