A shared room with a community bath in a University of Texas at Austin residence hall costs $14,465 for the 2026–27 academic year, and that price includes a meal plan, internet and laundry. The cheapest hall room UT lists is $13,324 (Dobie, shared, private bath). UT does not guarantee every applicant a contract. Texas sets no cap on a private-rental security deposit but requires the landlord to refund it within 30 days of move-out. At St. Edward’s University, the other Austin university covered here, a double room costs $4,519 a semester in 2026–27 before a compulsory meal plan.
Hall prices come from UT Austin University Housing and Dining and St. Edward’s University pages, deposit rules from the Texas State Law Library and Texas Attorney General, all checked on 6 November 2026. UT says its 2026–27 rates are subject to review and final approval. The Apartment List rent medians are the October 2026 figures I read on 21 October; I could not reopen that page on 6 November.
Cost at a glance: what to add up
Before you compare the prices on this page, check what each figure actually covers:
- Rent period: per week, month or semester, and per person or per room.
- What is included: utilities, internet, contents insurance and any meal plan.
- One-off costs: deposit, application or booking fee, and any first-month payment.
- Getting to campus: travel passes, or the extra cost of living further out.
- Currency: prices here are in the local currency. Convert them at your bank’s current rate and add the transfer fee. Rates change daily, so we do not publish rupee figures.
Anything we could not confirm from an official source is flagged on this page as “could not verify”, so read those notes before you rely on a figure.
UT Austin residence hall rates, 2026–27
UT prices a room for the whole fall and spring year (nine months), per person. Every rate includes the room, a meal plan with unlimited dining hall visits, internet and laundry. The meal plan also carries $400 in Dine In Dollars each term for on-campus restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores. Rates exclude sales tax, and the UT page does not mention a housing deposit.
| Room type | Rate for 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Dobie shared room, private bath | $13,324 |
| Dobie two-bedroom shared room, private bath | $14,116 |
| Shared space, community bath | $14,465 |
| Jester shared space, community bath | $14,937 |
| Shared space, connecting or private bath | $15,410 |
| Jester shared space, connecting or private bath | $15,884 |
| San Jacinto or Duren shared space, connecting or private bath | $18,164 |
| Single, community bath (limited) | $16,364 |
| Jester single, community bath (limited) | $16,808 |
| Dobie single room, private bath | $17,913 |
| Dobie two-bedroom single room, private bath | $19,330 |
| Premium single, community bath (limited) | $19,104 |
| Jester premium single, community bath (limited) | $19,725 |
| Premium single, connecting or private bath (limited) | $20,352 |
| Duren single, private bath (limited) | $20,961 |
You can pay for the year in one go, in two instalments (fall and spring) at no extra charge, or in six instalments for an extra $50 per term. Bills post in mid-August for fall and by mid-January for spring. A late or short payment costs $50 and can put a hold on registration and transcripts. Card payments carry a 2.3% convenience fee, so an e-check is cheaper.
How to apply for UT housing
UT’s application page lists these steps and dates. It refers to the 2026–27 terms and conditions but does not state which year the calendar dates fall in, so check the portal for the current cycle.
| Step | What UT says |
|---|---|
| Housing portal opens | 1 August. You must have submitted your UT admission application, but you do not need to be admitted. |
| Application fee | $100, non-refundable. Waived if your admission application fee was waived. |
| Admission acceptance and enrolment deposit | Due by 1 May. Doing this makes you eligible for a contract. |
| Contract offers | Emailed on the 1st and 15th of each month from 15 February. Offers expire, so watch the date. |
| Contract prepayment | $300 before you sign, deducted from your housing bill. Deferred if your admission fee was waived. |
| Living Learning Communities | Most application deadlines are 3 May. |
| Room selection | Time emailed by 1 June. Room swaps run to 31 July. |
| First bill | Due by 5 p.m. CST on the 12th class day of the term. |
There is no guarantee. UT prioritises first-time freshmen, but it may limit contracts for others according to the expected size of the incoming class, and offers depend on space and application date. Residence halls close over winter break, except San Jacinto Hall; a winter-break contract is available for an extra fee. The page has no information specific to international students.
St. Edward’s University and other Austin options
St. Edward’s publishes 2026–27 housing rates per person, per semester. All new freshmen must live in a university residence hall for their freshman and sophomore years, and halls require a meal plan each semester. Freshmen choose Plan A or Plan B.
| Residence (2026–27) | Per semester |
|---|---|
| Basil Moreau Hall: single / double / suite / casita | $5,013 / $4,519 / $4,382 / $4,572 |
| Jacques Dujarie Hall: double / suite / casita | $4,519 / $4,382 / $4,572 |
| Edmund Hunt Hall: single / super single suite | $4,993 / $4,871 |
| Lady Bird Johnson Hall, suite | $4,748 |
| Le Mans Hall, suite | $4,365 |
| Maryhill / Hilltopper Heights apartments | $4,131 to $5,808 by floor plan |
| St. André apartments: Red / Blue / Gold | $4,942 / $4,539 / $5,020 |
Meal plans for 2026–27 include 8.25% sales tax: Plan A (unlimited swipes, $400 flex) is $3,490 a semester and Plan B (240 swipes, $400 flex) is $2,870. Plan C ($2,150) is not open to first-years. Upperclassmen can apply for halls or apartments, but space is limited and not guaranteed. St. Edward’s said 2027–28 housing rates “will be posted soon”.
My arithmetic, not a St. Edward’s quote: a double ($4,519) plus Plan B ($2,870) is $7,389 a semester, or $14,778 over two semesters. That is about $1,300 more than UT’s $13,324 Dobie shared room and about $300 more than UT’s $14,465 community-bath room. The two are not like for like: UT’s rate covers internet and laundry, and I could not confirm what St. Edward’s rate includes beyond the room.
Renting privately in Austin
Apartment List is a rental marketplace, not an official source, so treat these as market medians for whole apartments rather than the price of one room.
| Apartment List, October 2026 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median one-bedroom rent | $1,174 a month |
| Median two-bedroom rent | $1,429 a month |
| Change over 12 months | Down 2.3% |
My arithmetic: UT’s cheapest room, $13,324 over nine months, works out at about $1,480 a month including food, internet and laundry. Two students sharing a median two-bedroom would each pay about $715 a month in rent, but that excludes utilities, food, any parking and a deposit, so the two are not directly comparable. I have not named neighbourhoods or specific apartment blocks, because I found no official source for where Austin students live or what individual buildings charge.
Texas deposit and tenant rules
| Question | Texas rule (Property Code chapter 92) |
|---|---|
| Is there a cap? | The Texas State Law Library guide states no limit on the deposit amount. |
| When must it come back? | On or before the 30th day after you surrender the premises (§92.103). |
| Do I need to give an address? | Yes. The landlord need not refund or itemise until you give a written forwarding address (§92.107). You keep your right to a refund without one. |
| What can be deducted? | Damage and charges you are responsible for under the lease. Not normal wear and tear (§92.104). |
| Itemised list? | Yes, where deductions are made and rent is fully paid with no dispute (§92.104(c)). |
| If it is wrongly withheld | You can recover three times the portion wrongfully withheld plus fees (§92.109). Claims under $20,000 can go to justice court. |
The Texas Attorney General adds that your lease is the main source of your rights, that repair requests should be in writing (by certified or registered mail, or delivered in person, with a copy kept), and that landlords are presumed to have seven days to make a reasonable repair effort. Check the lease for a move-out notice requirement, often 30 days. The AG page does not address student tenants specifically.
Getting around Austin without a car
UT’s transportation office says UT students, faculty and staff ride CapMetro mainline buses and MetroRapid free by swiping a valid UT photo ID, and ride MetroRail free with a valid university ID. The page gives no academic year for this, so confirm it before you rely on it. CapMetro’s own fares page does not mention a free-ride scheme for UT or other university students.
For students not covered, CapMetro’s local fare is $1.25 a single ride, $2.50 for a day pass and $41.25 for a calendar-month pass. After two paid rides in a service day the rest of that day is free, and with the Umo app or a reloadable card, reaching 17 capped days in a month makes the rest of the month free. CapMetro Bikeshare annual passes are $30 for UT students (with application), $75 for other higher-education students aged 18 or over, and free for Huston-Tillotson students with application.
Spotting rental scams
The Texas Attorney General lists these warning signs: an owner who wants a deposit before you have seen the property in person, repeated excuses for not showing it, requests to pay outside the listing site or by unusual methods such as wire transfer, and a “landlord” who is really a tenant with no right to sublet. Verify that the person is the owner or an authorised sublessor, and file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office if you are caught out.
What I could not verify
Whether UT requires first-year students to live on campus; the year of UT’s application calendar; the enrolment deposit amount; rates and rules at other Austin institutions such as Huston-Tillotson University and Austin Community College; what St. Edward’s room rates include; and any official figures for where students live or what private blocks charge. The Apartment List medians were read on 21 October 2026 and not re-checked on 6 November. UT’s transport page carries an August 2024 last-updated stamp.
Talk to us about your budget and city
Not sure which option suits you or your family? Send us your city, budget and room type, and we will point you to the right guide and the next steps to check. Students and parents are both welcome to ask.
Frequently asked questions
How much does UT Austin student housing cost?
From $13,324 to $20,961 for the 2026–27 academic year, depending on room type. Each rate includes a meal plan, internet and laundry, but not sales tax.
Does UT guarantee me a place in a residence hall?
No. UT’s application page says it prioritises first-time freshmen but may limit contracts, and offers depend on space and application date. Contract offers go out from 15 February.
How much deposit can a landlord charge in Texas?
The Texas State Law Library’s guide states no limit. The landlord must refund it, less lawful deductions, within 30 days of you moving out.
What if my landlord does not return my deposit?
Give your forwarding address in writing. If the deposit or an itemised list does not arrive within 30 days, Texas law allows you to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus fees.
Is public transport free for UT students?
UT says its students ride CapMetro buses, MetroRapid and MetroRail free with a valid UT ID, though the page gives no academic year. Others pay $1.25 a ride or $41.25 for a calendar-month pass.
What is the cheapest university housing in Austin?
Of the two universities checked, UT’s Dobie shared room at $13,324 for 2026–27 is the lowest annual price, and it includes meals. St. Edward’s cheapest listed room rate is $4,131 a semester for a Maryhill/Hilltopper Heights apartment, and it did not list a rate for that apartment including meals.
Is a residence hall or a private flat better value?
The hall price bundles food, internet and laundry, while private rent is rent only. Apartment List’s October 2026 median for an Austin one-bedroom is $1,174 a month, and you would add utilities and food yourself.
Comparing other Texas cities? See our guides to student accommodation in Houston, College Station and Lubbock, browse all US student accommodation guides, or read our budgeting tips for students.
Sources
- UT Austin University Housing and Dining: rates and billing, 2026–27
- UT Austin University Housing and Dining: future residents (application process)
- St. Edward’s University: on-campus housing and meal plan rates, 2026–27
- Texas State Law Library: security deposit refunds
- Texas Attorney General: renter’s rights
- Texas Attorney General: real estate and rental scams
- UT Parking and Transportation Services: CapMetro
- CapMetro: fares
- Apartment List: Austin rent report (median rents only)
All checked 6 November 2026.
