Information on the Austin Area for Prospective Students in the MPA Program
Austin is known as one of the best places to live in America. The city is full of life and combines a small town feel with the diversity and opportunities generally found only in large cities. Austin is home to the Texas state capitol as well as The University of Texas.
Geography and Climate — Located in Central Texas, Austin is surrounded by limestone hills, a chain of lakes, sparkling streams and rolling farmland. The climate is temperate with an average 300 days of sunshine. Temperatures range traditionally from 42-62 degrees F. in winter and 75-95 degrees F. in summer.
Austin is located only an hour away from San Antonio and less than four hours away from Dallas, Houston, and the beaches at Corpus Christi. The airport, located near campus, allows for easy access to the rest of the U.S.
Housing — While single and married student housing is available through the university, many students prefer to live off-campus. Austin has a wide selection of duplexes, complexes and houses. The rental market in Austin is tight, so be prepared to come early or you may pay extra for last minute spots. See more information on housing.
Recreation and Entertainment — Austin is known as the regional "Music Capital," home to hundreds of musicians and scores of live-music venues.
Nature is a big part of the Austin experience. Bikes, running shoes and roller blades are all welcome on Austin's many jogging/biking trails. In Zilker Park is Austin's beloved Barton Springs, a gigantic spring-fed swimming pool, the Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Austin offers 150 miles of lakes, 174 parks, 18 golf courses, 156 public tennis courts and 28 miles of jogging trails.
Austin has a wide variety of restaurants to cater to anyone's palate. The cuisines range from Mexican and country-style cooking to Indian, Thai, and European.
Rankings — Of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., Austin...
- is the most highly educated community
- has the highest bookstore sales per household
- has the second lowest incidence of street crime
- is ranked by Parenting magazine as one of the ten best cities for raising children
For more information about Austin, contact
Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; P.O. Box 1967; Austin, Texas 78767;
