# UT Austin departments with the highest grades

Ranked by the average grade in each department’s classes since fall 2023, highest first.

Our pick

## [Natural Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/natural-sciences)

**3.91** average grade

Natural Sciences averages 3.91 across 3,783 grades, the most of the 2 departments within 0.05 of No. 1’s average. No. 1 is Ensemble: 3.96 across 3,488 grades.

[See this department](https://utaustin.guide/majors/natural-sciences)

## The full list

1. 1[Ensemble](https://utaustin.guide/majors/ensemble) ENS · 3,488 grades **Catch:** 3,488 grades, 295 fewer than our pick**3.96**
2. 2[Natural Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/natural-sciences) NSC · 3,783 grades **Our pick:** 3,783 grades, the most near No. 1**3.91**
3. 3[Special Education](https://utaustin.guide/majors/special-education) SED · 3,041 grades **Catch:** average 0.11 lower than No. 1**3.85**
4. 4[Communication](https://utaustin.guide/majors/communication) COM · 9,226 grades **Catch:** average 0.13 lower than No. 1**3.83**
5. 5[Studio Art](https://utaustin.guide/majors/studio-art) ART · 2,326 grades **Catch:** average 0.13 lower than No. 1**3.82**
6. 6[Informatics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/informatics) I · 4,512 grades **Catch:** average 0.13 lower than No. 1**3.82**
7. 7[Engineering Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/engineering-studies) E S · 3,189 grades **Catch:** average 0.15 lower than No. 1**3.81**
8. 8[Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/speech-language-and-hearing-sciences) SLH · 6,126 grades **Catch:** average 0.16 lower than No. 1**3.80**
9. 9[Physical Education](https://utaustin.guide/majors/physical-education) PED · 8,186 grades **Catch:** average 0.17 lower than No. 1**3.79**
10. 10[Public Health](https://utaustin.guide/majors/public-health) PBH · 4,978 grades **Catch:** average 0.18 lower than No. 1**3.78**
11. 11[Curriculum and Instruction](https://utaustin.guide/majors/curriculum-and-instruction) EDC · 3,174 grades **Catch:** average 0.18 lower than No. 1**3.78**
12. 12[Business Administration](https://utaustin.guide/majors/business-administration) B A · 8,131 grades **Catch:** average 0.18 lower than No. 1**3.77**
13. 13[Nutrition](https://utaustin.guide/majors/nutrition) NTR · 18,404 grades **Catch:** average 0.19 lower than No. 1**3.77**
14. 14[Nursing](https://utaustin.guide/majors/nursing) N · 4,311 grades **Catch:** average 0.19 lower than No. 1**3.77**
15. 15[Educational Psychology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/educational-psychology) EDP · 13,549 grades **Catch:** average 0.20 lower than No. 1**3.75**
16. 16[Design](https://utaustin.guide/majors/design) DES · 2,986 grades **Catch:** average 0.21 lower than No. 1**3.74**
17. 17[Theatre and Dance](https://utaustin.guide/majors/theatre-and-dance) T D · 7,023 grades **Catch:** average 0.21 lower than No. 1**3.74**
18. 18[Public Relations](https://utaustin.guide/majors/public-relations) P R · 4,760 grades **Catch:** average 0.22 lower than No. 1**3.74**
19. 19[Religious Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/religious-studies) R S · 2,125 grades **Catch:** average 0.22 lower than No. 1**3.73**
20. 20[Textiles and Apparel](https://utaustin.guide/majors/textiles-and-apparel) TXA · 3,255 grades **Catch:** average 0.23 lower than No. 1**3.73**
21. 21[Social Work](https://utaustin.guide/majors/social-work) S W · 2,890 grades **Catch:** average 0.24 lower than No. 1**3.71**
22. 22[Advertising](https://utaustin.guide/majors/advertising) ADV · 25,523 grades **Catch:** average 0.25 lower than No. 1**3.71**
23. 23[Music](https://utaustin.guide/majors/music) MUS · 12,159 grades **Catch:** average 0.26 lower than No. 1**3.70**
24. 24[Undergraduate Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/undergraduate-studies) UGS · 23,009 grades **Catch:** average 0.26 lower than No. 1**3.70**
25. 25[Radio-Television-Film](https://utaustin.guide/majors/radio-television-film) RTF · 17,472 grades **Catch:** average 0.28 lower than No. 1**3.68**
26. 26[Art History](https://utaustin.guide/majors/art-history) ARH · 6,980 grades **Catch:** average 0.29 lower than No. 1**3.67**
27. 27[Health and Society](https://utaustin.guide/majors/health-and-society) H S · 2,728 grades **Catch:** average 0.31 lower than No. 1**3.65**
28. 28[Journalism](https://utaustin.guide/majors/journalism) J · 10,493 grades **Catch:** average 0.31 lower than No. 1**3.64**
29. 29[Classical Civilization](https://utaustin.guide/majors/classical-civilization) C C · 11,855 grades **Catch:** average 0.31 lower than No. 1**3.64**
30. 30[Human Development and Family Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/human-development-and-family-sciences) HDF · 5,662 grades **Catch:** average 0.32 lower than No. 1**3.64**
31. 31[Asian Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/asian-studies) ANS · 2,550 grades **Catch:** average 0.33 lower than No. 1**3.63**
32. 32[Rhetoric and Writing](https://utaustin.guide/majors/rhetoric-and-writing) RHE · 7,329 grades **Catch:** average 0.33 lower than No. 1**3.63**
33. 33[Statistics and Data Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/statistics-and-data-sciences) SDS · 16,093 grades **Catch:** average 0.33 lower than No. 1**3.62**
34. 34[History](https://utaustin.guide/majors/history) HIS · 32,597 grades **Catch:** average 0.34 lower than No. 1**3.62**
35. 35[Arts and Entertainment Technologies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/arts-and-entertainment-technologies) AET · 5,195 grades **Catch:** average 0.34 lower than No. 1**3.62**
36. 36[Biomedical Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/biomedical-engineering) BME · 7,023 grades **Catch:** average 0.34 lower than No. 1**3.62**
37. 37[Health Education](https://utaustin.guide/majors/health-education) HED · 3,718 grades **Catch:** average 0.34 lower than No. 1**3.62**
38. 38[Psychology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/psychology) PSY · 32,761 grades **Catch:** average 0.34 lower than No. 1**3.62**
39. 39[Architecture](https://utaustin.guide/majors/architecture) ARC · 6,683 grades **Catch:** average 0.35 lower than No. 1**3.61**
40. 40[Mexican American Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/mexican-american-studies) MAS · 2,530 grades **Catch:** average 0.37 lower than No. 1**3.59**
41. 41[Communication Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/communication-studies) CMS · 16,596 grades **Catch:** average 0.38 lower than No. 1**3.58**
42. 42[Sociology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/sociology) SOC · 17,334 grades **Catch:** average 0.39 lower than No. 1**3.56**
43. 43[Management Information Systems](https://utaustin.guide/majors/management-information-systems) MIS · 12,710 grades **Catch:** average 0.41 lower than No. 1**3.55**
44. 44[Architectural Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/architectural-engineering) ARE · 3,115 grades **Catch:** average 0.41 lower than No. 1**3.55**
45. 45[English](https://utaustin.guide/majors/english) E · 21,918 grades **Catch:** average 0.41 lower than No. 1**3.55**
46. 46[Astronomy](https://utaustin.guide/majors/astronomy) AST · 9,853 grades **Catch:** average 0.41 lower than No. 1**3.54**
47. 47[American Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/american-studies) AMS · 2,154 grades **Catch:** average 0.43 lower than No. 1**3.53**
48. 48[Spanish](https://utaustin.guide/majors/spanish) SPN · 12,582 grades **Catch:** average 0.43 lower than No. 1**3.52**
49. 49[Physics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/physics) PHY · 32,554 grades **Catch:** average 0.44 lower than No. 1**3.52**
50. 50[Management](https://utaustin.guide/majors/management) MAN · 14,066 grades **Catch:** average 0.44 lower than No. 1**3.51**
51. 51[Decision Science](https://utaustin.guide/majors/decision-science) D S · 3,633 grades **Catch:** average 0.45 lower than No. 1**3.50**
52. 52[Human Dimensions of Organizations](https://utaustin.guide/majors/human-dimensions-of-organizations) HDO · 2,688 grades **Catch:** average 0.46 lower than No. 1**3.50**
53. 53[Geological Sciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/geological-sciences) GEO · 11,347 grades **Catch:** average 0.46 lower than No. 1**3.49**
54. 54[Computational Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/computational-engineering) COE · 2,138 grades **Catch:** average 0.47 lower than No. 1**3.49**
55. 55[Philosophy](https://utaustin.guide/majors/philosophy) PHL · 8,596 grades **Catch:** average 0.47 lower than No. 1**3.48**
56. 56[Government](https://utaustin.guide/majors/government) GOV · 47,552 grades **Catch:** average 0.47 lower than No. 1**3.48**
57. 57[African and African Diaspora Studies](https://utaustin.guide/majors/african-and-african-diaspora-studies) AFR · 4,177 grades **Catch:** average 0.48 lower than No. 1**3.48**
58. 58[Kinesiology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/kinesiology) KIN · 15,825 grades **Catch:** average 0.48 lower than No. 1**3.48**
59. 59[Neuroscience](https://utaustin.guide/majors/neuroscience) NEU · 5,536 grades **Catch:** average 0.48 lower than No. 1**3.48**
60. 60[Mechanical Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/mechanical-engineering) M E · 18,966 grades **Catch:** average 0.49 lower than No. 1**3.46**
61. 61[Anthropology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/anthropology) ANT · 10,915 grades **Catch:** average 0.51 lower than No. 1**3.45**
62. 62[Molecular Biosciences](https://utaustin.guide/majors/molecular-biosciences) MBS · 8,494 grades **Catch:** average 0.51 lower than No. 1**3.45**
63. 63[Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/petroleum-and-geosystems-engineering) PGE · 4,063 grades **Catch:** average 0.51 lower than No. 1**3.44**
64. 64[Marketing](https://utaustin.guide/majors/marketing) MKT · 12,742 grades **Catch:** average 0.52 lower than No. 1**3.43**
65. 65[French](https://utaustin.guide/majors/french) FR · 3,949 grades **Catch:** average 0.53 lower than No. 1**3.43**
66. 66[Computer Science](https://utaustin.guide/majors/computer-science) C S · 35,001 grades **Catch:** average 0.55 lower than No. 1**3.41**
67. 67[Biology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/biology) BIO · 37,839 grades **Catch:** average 0.55 lower than No. 1**3.41**
68. 68[Integrative Biology](https://utaustin.guide/majors/integrative-biology) INB · 10,874 grades **Catch:** average 0.55 lower than No. 1**3.40**
69. 69[Chemistry](https://utaustin.guide/majors/chemistry) CH · 57,850 grades **Best for a sure number:** 57,850 grades, the most here**3.40**
70. 70[Biochemistry](https://utaustin.guide/majors/biochemistry) BCH · 8,960 grades **Catch:** average 0.57 lower than No. 1**3.39**
71. 71[Finance](https://utaustin.guide/majors/finance) FIN · 19,375 grades **Catch:** average 0.58 lower than No. 1**3.38**
72. 72[Mathematics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/mathematics) M · 54,072 grades **Catch:** average 0.60 lower than No. 1**3.36**
73. 73[Legal Environment of Business](https://utaustin.guide/majors/legal-environment-of-business) LEB · 8,812 grades **Catch:** average 0.62 lower than No. 1**3.34**
74. 74[Electrical and Computer Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/electrical-and-computer-engineering) ECE · 21,127 grades **Catch:** average 0.63 lower than No. 1**3.33**
75. 75[Operations Management](https://utaustin.guide/majors/operations-management) O M · 4,459 grades **Catch:** average 0.63 lower than No. 1**3.33**
76. 76[Geography](https://utaustin.guide/majors/geography) GRG · 4,398 grades **Catch:** average 0.63 lower than No. 1**3.32**
77. 77[Accounting](https://utaustin.guide/majors/accounting) ACC · 19,541 grades **Catch:** average 0.64 lower than No. 1**3.32**
78. 78[Statistics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/statistics) STA · 7,556 grades **Catch:** average 0.66 lower than No. 1**3.30**
79. 79[Civil Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/civil-engineering) C E · 8,572 grades **Catch:** average 0.68 lower than No. 1**3.28**
80. 80[Chemical Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/chemical-engineering) CHE · 8,350 grades **Catch:** average 0.70 lower than No. 1**3.26**
81. 81[Aerospace Engineering](https://utaustin.guide/majors/aerospace-engineering) ASE · 5,718 grades **Catch:** average 0.70 lower than No. 1**3.26**
82. 82[Economics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/economics) ECO · 32,055 grades **Catch:** average 0.75 lower than No. 1**3.20**
83. 83[Engineering Mechanics](https://utaustin.guide/majors/engineering-mechanics) E M · 5,457 grades **Catch:** average 0.90 lower than No. 1**3.05How we ranked 83 departments**

We averaged every A to F grade given in each department’s classes from fall 2023 to summer 2026. Departments with fewer than 2,000 letter grades aren’t ranked. This is the grade in a department’s classes, not the GPA of students in that major.

**Our pick:** We pick the department with the most grades among those within 0.05 of No. 1’s average, so its number rests on the most students.

- [UT Austin course grade distributions (Summer 2011 to Summer 2026)](https://reports.utexas.edu/spotlight-data/ut-course-grade-distributions)
- [UT’s public instructor evaluations by class and term](https://testingservices.utexas.edu/cis/viewing-results)

[Average GPA at UT Austin](https://utaustin.guide/research/ut-austin-average-gpa)[More UT Austin lists](https://utaustin.guide/best)

By [Sulayman Bowles](https://sulayman-bowles.dev/about) · Checked Nov 9, 2026

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Source: https://utaustin.guide/best/ut-austin-departments-highest-grades · Checked 2026-11-09 · Field Guide: UT Austin