UT Austin veteran benefits have gotten complicated with all the Hazlewood Act rules, GI Bill stacking strategies, and in-state tuition questions flying around. As someone who has advised Texas veterans on education benefits for years, I learned everything there is to know about maximizing your benefits at the state’s flagship university. Today, I will share it all with you.
The short version: University of Texas at Austin offers Texas veterans a unique advantage that most people miss — use the Hazlewood Act for free tuition on your undergrad, save your GI Bill for graduate school. Two degrees, zero debt.
School Overview
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Type | Public Research University |
| Total Enrollment | 52,000+ |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 17:1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 31% |
| US News Ranking | #32 National Universities |
Tuition & Costs (2024-2025)
| In-State Tuition | $11,448 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $41,070 |
| Room & Board | $13,500 |
Veteran Benefits – Multiple Options
Option 1: Hazlewood Act (Texas Veterans)
| Eligibility | Texas veterans with 181+ days active duty |
| Coverage | 150 credit hours of free tuition |
| Your Cost | $0 |
| GI Bill Status | PRESERVED for grad school |
Option 2: Post-9/11 GI Bill
| Coverage | 100% in-state tuition |
| Housing Allowance | $2,346/month |
| Your Cost | $0 |
Strategy For Texas Veterans
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The strategy is straightforward and the savings are massive: use Hazlewood for undergrad, save your 36 months of GI Bill for:
- McCombs MBA ($60,000/year)
- UT Law School ($55,000/year)
- Dell Medical School
- Any other graduate program that would otherwise drain your GI Bill
Total value: Two degrees, zero debt. That’s what makes the Hazlewood-GI Bill combination endearing to us veteran education advisors — it’s the most powerful benefit stacking opportunity available to Texas veterans anywhere in the country.
GI Bill Housing Allowance
- Monthly BAH Rate: $2,346/month
- Annual Housing Benefit: $21,114 (9 months)
- Book Stipend: $1,000/year
Notable Programs
- McCombs School of Business – Top-20 MBA
- Cockrell School of Engineering – Top-10 engineering
- School of Law – Top-15 law school
- Computer Science – Top-10 nationally
- Dell Medical School – New, innovative program
Veteran Services
UT Austin takes veteran support seriously, and it shows in the resources they’ve built:
- Student Veteran Services office with dedicated staff who understand VA paperwork
- Texas Exes Veterans Network for alumni connections
- Priority registration — no more scrambling for the classes you need
- Veteran-specific housing options on campus
- Strong career services with direct pipelines to Austin’s booming tech employers
Official Website: utexas.edu
Hazlewood Info: Texas Veterans Commission
