The University of North Texas (UNT) is a major public R1 research university in Denton, Texas — 35 miles north of Dallas — with over 47,000 students from 110+ countries, a 72% acceptance rate, and in-state tuition of approximately $11,852–$13,506/year.

International students who receive the UNT Excellence Scholarship (automatic, no separate application) qualify for a competitive waiver that brings tuition down to Texas resident rates. The President’s Elite tier of this scholarship pays $12,000/year — up to $48,000 total over four years. Here’s the full breakdown.

What Is the University of North Texas?

Founded in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, the University of North Texas has grown from a small teacher-preparation school into one of the largest and most research-active public universities in the American South. With more than 47,000 students system-wide and 9,000+ international students from 137 countries, UNT ranks among the top 10 largest universities in the United States by enrollment.

UNT is classified as an R1 Doctoral University — Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, placing it in the top tier of American research institutions alongside flagship universities like UT Austin and Texas A&M. In the 2026 US News rankings, UNT sits at #208 nationally and — remarkably — #34 in the country for Social Mobility, reflecting its effectiveness at enrolling and graduating students from lower-income backgrounds. UNT is also recognized as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI).

UNT operates from three main locations:

• Denton (main campus) — 900+ acres, the primary undergraduate and graduate hub
• Discovery Park — a 290-acre engineering and computer science complex 20 minutes from the main campus, connected by shuttle
• UNT at Frisco — a growing campus serving the Frisco/McKinney metro area north of Dallas

UNT is fully accredited by SACSCOC, with over 200 individual program accreditations from AACSB (business), ABET (engineering), NASM (music), NASAD (art/design), NCATE (education), APA (psychology internship), and many others — one of the most comprehensive accreditation portfolios of any university in this guide.

University of North Texas at a Glance — Key Facts

Programs and Colleges at UNT

UNT offers an academic catalog that rivals any flagship Texas university: 105 bachelor’s, 88 master’s, and 37 doctoral programs across 14 colleges and schools. Several programs at UNT are genuinely first-of-their-kind in the U.S., and multiple programs rank in the national top 100.

The 14 colleges include:

1. G. Brint Ryan College of Business (AACSB-accredited)
2. College of Engineering (ABET-accredited)
3. College of Information (top-ranked library/information science)
4. College of Education (NCATE-accredited)
5. College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
6. College of Science
7. College of Visual Arts and Design
8. College of Music (one of the largest in the U.S., NASM-accredited)
9. Honors College
10. School of Law (UNT Dallas College of Law — separate campus)
11. School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management
12. School of Public Administration
13. Toulouse Graduate School
14. University Studies

Music — UNT’s Most Famous Program Nationally

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most highly regarded music schools in the United States — and one of the few places in the country where you can earn a degree in jazz studies at an R1 research university with a full conservatory-level program.

UNT’s music school is NASM-accredited and offers programs from performance and composition to music education, music theory, ethnomusicology, and music industry. The jazz program in particular has produced alumni who perform and record at the highest professional levels. For music students who want both rigorous conservatory training and the breadth of a large research university, UNT is one of the few institutions in the country that delivers both.

Business (AACSB) — Top-Ranked MBA

The G. Brint Ryan College of Business carries AACSB accreditation — top 6% of business schools globally — and offers one of the best-ranked MBA programs in Texas. Specializations span Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Supply Chain, Business Analytics, and International Business.

The MBA is available in full-time, part-time, and online formats. UNT’s location — 35 miles from Dallas — puts business students inside the DFW metro’s financial services, corporate headquarters, and startup ecosystem for internships and networking throughout their degree.

Engineering and Computer Science — Discovery Park

Engineering and CS programs are housed at Discovery Park — a dedicated 290-acre campus with modern labs, a Cyber Range for cybersecurity training, maker spaces, and research centers. The College of Engineering is ABET-accredited and offers programs in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, Materials Science, and Biomedical Engineering.

Computer Science and Data Science programs are among the most enrolled at UNT — particularly popular with international students from India and other countries, with MS in Computer Science and MS in Data Science being the most in-demand graduate programs.

Information Science — Nationally Top-Ranked

The College of Information at UNT consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally for Library and Information Science programs. Its programs in Data Science, Information Systems, and Digital Curation are increasingly relevant in a world where information management is a core organizational function across every industry. This is one of UNT’s most distinguished academic programs and deserves recognition alongside the better-known music and business schools.

Visual Arts and Design

The College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) is NASAD-accredited and offers programs in Studio Art, Graphic Design, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, and Art History. UNT’s DFW location gives design students direct access to the region’s advertising agencies, fashion industry, and design firms — practical career connections that remote or rural programs cannot replicate.

Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS)

One of UNT’s most unique features is TAMS — a residential early college program for gifted high school juniors and seniors who take university-level STEM courses full-time on the UNT campus.

TAMS students live on campus, complete their junior and senior years of high school while earning college credit, and frequently graduate with 60+ transferable credit hours — a two-year head start toward any degree. All TAMS students who complete the FAFSA receive a minimum scholarship of $7,500. This program is a national model for accelerated STEM education.

Popular Graduate Programs for International Students

UNT is one of the most popular destinations in Texas for international graduate students. The most in-demand programs include:

• MS in Computer Science
• MS in Data Science
• MS in Information Science
• MS in Finance
• MBA (multiple specializations)
• MS in Business Analytics
• MS in Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• MS in Engineering (Electrical, Computer, Mechanical)

UNT Tuition and Cost of Attendance

As a public Texas university, UNT’s in-state tuition is competitive — and the competitive scholarship waiver mechanism (explained in the scholarship section below) makes in-state rates accessible to out-of-state and international students who receive merit awards.

Undergraduate Tuition

Graduate Tuition

Note: Graduate tuition varies significantly by program. Engineering and CS programs tend toward the higher end; humanities and education programs toward the lower end. Use UNT’s online tuition estimator at unt.edu for precise figures.

Cost of Living in Denton

Denton is a genuine college town — affordable, walkable near campus, and culturally active. On-campus housing (Mean Green Village and other residence halls) runs approximately $10,000–$12,000/year. Off-campus apartments near UNT typically cost $600–$900/month for room-sharing arrangements — significantly cheaper than Dallas, Houston, or Austin. Students report monthly living expenses of approximately $650–$750, including rent, food, and personal expenses, especially with room sharing.

The campus shuttle system (including the Discovery Park connector) means a car is optional rather than essential for most students. Denton’s location — on I-35E between Dallas and Fort Worth — makes it genuinely practical to access both cities without living in either.

Financial Aid Overview

UNT awards over $49 million in merit scholarships and need-based financial aid annually. The university’s #34 Social Mobility ranking reflects how seriously it takes making education financially accessible — not just for wealthy students, but for first-generation students and those from lower-income backgrounds who make up a significant portion of UNT’s enrollment.

UNT Scholarships — Up to $48,000 Total, Waiver for International Students

UNT Excellence Scholarship — Automatic, No Separate Application

The UNT Excellence Scholarship is the university’s flagship merit award for incoming first-time freshmen. Key facts:

• Automatic consideration — no separate scholarship application required. All first-time freshmen admitted by March 1 are automatically considered based on high school transcript, class rank, and unweighted GPA
• Award amounts are tiered — the highest tier is the President’s Elite Award at $12,000/year ($48,000 total over 4 years)
• President’s Honors tier: $10,000/year
• Minimum tier (Scrappy Scholarship): $1,000/year
• Renewable for up to 4 years (8 semesters) with: minimum 12 UNT credit hours each semester, minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, 24 credit hours per academic year
• International students who receive any tier of Excellence Scholarship qualify for the Texas competitive scholarship waiver — paying in-state tuition instead of out-of-state rates.
• This can save international students $8,000–$15,000/year.
• Priority is given to the earliest applicants — apply before March 1 for maximum consideration.

Test Score Bonus Award — Additional $1,000

First-time freshmen who already qualify for a UNT Excellence Scholarship and submit official SAT or ACT scores by July 1 may receive an additional $1,000/year bonus award, renewable for up to 4 years. This is stackable on top of your base Excellence Scholarship — earning you $1,000 extra per year simply for submitting scores you already have.

UNT Achievement Scholarship — $1,000/Year Fallback

Students who don’t meet the criteria for the Excellence Scholarship are automatically evaluated for the UNT Achievement Scholarship — $1,000/year, renewable for up to 4 years. This is awarded based on academic achievement as demonstrated via admission application materials. No separate application required.

Competitive Scholarship Tuition Waiver — In-State Rates for International Students

This is the most important financial mechanism for international students at UNT:

• Any non-Texas resident or international student who receives a UNT competitive scholarship of $1,000 or more is eligible to pay.
• Texas resident tuition for fall, spring, and summer of the awarded year
• The scholarship must be open to both Texas residents and non-residents to qualify as “competitive”
• The waiver covers the full difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition — not just a partial reduction
• Since the UNT Excellence Scholarship and Achievement Scholarship are both competitive awards, most international students who receive either award automatically qualify for this waiver.
• The waiver applies as long as you maintain Excellence Scholarship eligibility

Transfer Excellence Scholarships — Automatic for Transfer Students

New undergraduate transfer students are automatically considered for Transfer Excellence Scholarships when admitted to UNT. Requirements: minimum 30 transferable credit hours from a community college or accredited university after high school graduation. Priority deadline for fall transfers: June 1. Awards provide up to 2 years (4 semesters) of support.

Graduate Scholarships — Toulouse Graduate School

Graduate students at UNT have multiple scholarship pathways through the Toulouse Graduate School (TGS):

• Academic Achievement Scholarship: Open to fully admitted master’s and doctoral students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Apply via Eagle Scholarship Portal by March 31 each year.
• Externally Funded Students Scholarship: $1,000/year for master’s and doctoral students who demonstrate external funding (stipend, grant, or similar). Recipients may be eligible to pay resident tuition. Apply by May 1 each year.r
• R.B. Toulouse Fellowship: Available to new and continuing graduate students — contact TGS for current amounts and eligibility
• Assistantships: Available in most graduate programs, typically requiring 20 hours/week. Most include health insurance eligibility. Students who work as Teaching or Research Assistants receive a tuition waiver of approximately 40% — bringing graduate costs down significantly

National Merit Scholarship — Up to $157,000

National Merit Scholarship finalists who select UNT as their first choice school receive an award valued at $108,000 for Texas residents and $157,000 for out-of-state students. This is one of the most generous National Merit Scholarship packages at any Texas public university. Finalists must designate UNT with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by the applicable deadline.

Good Neighbor Scholarship

Like all Texas public universities, UNT participates in the Good Neighbor Scholarship program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This provides a full tuition exemption for eligible students from Western Hemisphere countries (excluding Cuba and the U.S.) who intend to return to their home country after completing their degree. 235 awards are made annually across all Texas public universities — contact UNT International Admissions for eligibility details.

Eagle Scholarship Portal

Most UNT scholarships are housed in the Eagle Scholarship Portal (ESP). As soon as you receive your UNT EUID and password after admission, log in and complete your scholarship profile to be automatically matched against available awards. The Portal is the single most important tool for maximizing your scholarship opportunities at UNT — use it early.

UNT Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

UNT has an acceptance rate of approximately 72% — moderately selective for a large public R1 university. The admissions process evaluates high school GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores for scholarship purposes, though admission itself is broadly accessible.

Undergraduate Requirements

• Apply at unt.edu via the UNT application portal.
• Application fee: $85 for international students.
• Test-optional for admission — SAT/ACT considered for scholarship tiering if submitted; submit by July 1 for bonus scholarship consideration.
• Official high school transcript with class rank (required for Excellence Scholarship consideration).
• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 79+, IELTS 6.0+, Duolingo 105+, or PTE 53+.
• International undergraduate deadline (Fall): July 15.
• Excellence Scholarship priority deadline: March 1 — apply by this date for maximum consideration.

Graduate Requirements

• Apply through the Toulouse Graduate School at tgs.unt.edu
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (last 60 hours) for most programs
• GRE scores vary by program — Engineering typically requires GRE Verbal 148+, Quantitative 155+, AW 3.5+; many programs waive GRE
• Letters of recommendation (typically 2–3)
• Statement of purpose
• Resume or CV
• TOEFL iBT 79+, IELTS 6.5+, or Duolingo 110+ for international applicants
• Graduate international deadline (Fall): April 15 (varies by program — check specific department)

Campus Life at UNT

Denton — The College Town Experience

Denton is one of the best college towns in Texas. Home to both UNT and Texas Woman’s University, the city has a genuine university-town culture — live music venues, independent coffee shops and restaurants, vintage stores, and a thriving arts scene all coexist with the campus. The Denton Arts and Jazz Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and reflects the city’s cultural identity as a music and arts hub.

UNT has won the title of #1 college food in America for five consecutive years — an unusual but genuine distinction that reflects the university’s investment in its dining program. For students who spend significant time on campus, this matters more than it might initially seem.

Denton’s location on I-35E — 35 miles north of Dallas, 45 miles northeast of Fort Worth — gives students practical DFW access without paying DFW prices. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) A-train connects Denton to the DFW rail network, making downtown Dallas accessible without a car.

Student Organizations — 450+

UNT has over 450 student organizations spanning academic departments, Greek life (fraternities and sororities), cultural organizations, professional associations, recreational clubs, and community service groups. The international student community is particularly active — with organizations including the Indian Students Association (ISA), UNT Telugu Association, UNT Tamil Sangam, UNT Punjabi Association, and Hindi Sahitya Sabha, reflecting the large South Asian student population at UNT.

The DFW area has the second-largest Indian-American population in Texas (after Houston), with Indian restaurants, grocery stores (Patel Brothers, India Bazaar), and temples within 30 minutes of Denton. For international students from India specifically, UNT’s community infrastructure is among the best at any Texas university.

Recreation and Wellness

The Pohl Recreation Center is a state-of-the-art fitness facility on the main campus offering gym equipment, group fitness classes, indoor pools, rock climbing walls, and intramural sports coordination. UNT’s intramural program covers flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, softball, and dozens of other sports — with league and tournament formats for both competitive and recreational participants.

NCAA Division I Athletics — The Mean Green

UNT competes at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) — a strong mid-major conference that provides competitive national exposure. The Mean Green field teams in football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, cross country, track and field, and golf. Apogee Stadium — UNT’s 30,850-seat football venue — is one of the most distinctive athletic facilities in college sports, consistently ranked among the top college football experiences in Texas outside the SEC/Big 12.

Notable UNT athletic alumni include Bailey Zappe (NFL quarterback) and various professional athletes who used UNT as a launching pad for professional careers.

Research and Career Outcomes

As an R1 research university, UNT invests seriously in research infrastructure. Key research strengths include:

• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing — materials science research with applications in aerospace, electronics, and energy
• Data Science and AI — applied research in machine learning, cybersecurity (via the Cyber Range at Discovery Park), and information systems
• Environmental Science — sustainability, climate research, and environmental monitoring
• Music Technology — UNT’s music research extends into acoustics, digital audio, and music cognition
• Health Sciences — UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth focuses on osteopathic medicine, nursing, and public health

Career placement at UNT benefits enormously from DFW proximity. Major employers who actively recruit from UNT include AT&T, American Airlines, Lockheed Martin, Texas Instruments, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, and hundreds of mid-size DFW companies. The Handshake platform at UNT connects students to Eagle Internships, on-campus jobs, and employer partnerships — with the Texas Internship Challenge providing additional paid internship opportunities through a state-wide employer network.

UNT’s graduate employment rate stands at approximately 75% within one year of graduation. For international students on F-1 visas, UNT supports Optional Practical Training (OPT) — 12 months for most graduates, up to 36 months for STEM degree holders. Given that CS, Engineering, Data Science, and Information Science are STEM designations, most of UNT’s most popular international student programs qualify for the extended 36-month OPT period.

How UNT Compares to Other Texas Universities

• For a larger flagship R1 university in the same Texas Tech System with Big 12 athletics and petroleum engineering, see Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
• For a smaller public university in North Texas with AACSB business and the COPLAC liberal arts designation at a lower cost, see Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
• For a private university in Fort Worth with DFW access and an automatic $21,000 international scholarship, see Texas Wesleyan University.
• For a private university in Houston with 100% aid coverage and access to the Texas Medical Center and energy sector, see Houston Baptist University.
• For a comparison of the most affordable Texas university options, see our guide to the Cheapest Universities in Texas for International Students.

Is UNT Right for You?

The University of North Texas is a strong fit if you:

• Want an R1 research university in Texas with genuine depth in music, business, engineering, CS, information science, and visual arts
• Are an international student who can qualify for the Excellence Scholarship and its associated competitive tuition waiver — bringing costs to Texas resident rates
• Want access to the Dallas–Fort Worth job market without paying DFW cost of living prices.
• Are a graduate student in CS, Data Science, Information Science, Engineering, or Business — UNT’s most in-demand and internationally recognized graduate programs
• Value a genuine college-town atmosphere with 450+ student organizations and one of the best college dining programs in the country.y
• Are from India or South Asia and want an active, established international student community with cultural organizations, Indian grocery stores, and temples nearby

UNT may not be ideal if you want a smaller, more intimate university experience (23:1 ratio means larger classes than the smaller universities in this guide), prefer a private university, or need programs not offered in UNT’s catalog. Parking and administrative processes at a 47,000-student institution can be slow — a consistent theme in student reviews that’s worth knowing before arriving on campus.

How to Apply to the University of North Texas

1. Apply at unt.edu using the UNT application portal — pay the $85 international application fee.
2. Apply by March 1 for fall admission to ensure automatic Excellence Scholarship consideration — earlier applications get priority.
3. Submit official high school or college transcripts with class rank (required for Excellence Scholarship tiering).
4. Submit SAT or ACT scores by July 1 voluntarily if you have strong scores — earn an additional $1,000/year bonus on top of the Excellence Scholarship.
5. Submit English proficiency scores: TOEFL iBT 79+, IELTS 6.0+, Duolingo 105+, or PTE 53+.
6. Log into Eagle Scholarship Portal (ESP) immediately after receiving your EUID — complete your profile to be matched to additional scholarship opportunities.
7. Apply for the Good Neighbor Scholarship through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board if you are from a qualifying Western Hemisphere country.
8. Receive your I-20 from UNT International Admissions and begin the F-1 visa application — allow 2–3 months minimum.
9. Graduate students: Apply through Toulouse Graduate School at tgs.unt.edu; submit Eagle Scholarship Portal application by March 31 (Academic Achievement) or May 1 (Externally Funded) for graduate awards.

Final Thoughts

The University of North Texas is one of the most underrated large public universities in Texas. Its R1 research designation, top-ranked programs in music, information science, business, and engineering, combined with the Excellence Scholarship’s competitive tuition waiver for international students, make it a genuinely strong value proposition for students who want research university access without paying flagship-university costs.

For graduate students in CS, Data Science, or Engineering specifically, UNT’s combination of program quality, DFW career access, Denton’s affordability, and the 36-month STEM OPT pathway makes it one of the most practically attractive options in the state.

For the most current tuition figures, scholarship deadlines, and application requirements, visit unt.edu directly.

Have questions about UNT or comparing it with other Texas universities? Drop them in the comments below.