The University of Texas at Austin is among the most competitive public universities in the United States. Its admissions system is particularly distinctive because Texas residents, out-of-state students and international applicants experience very different admission rates.
The latest complete official Common Data Set shows that UT Austin admitted 22.2% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025. For Fall 2026, the university received a record 98,841 applications, but its official announcement does not include the corresponding number of admission offers.
Understanding Texas automatic admission, major selection, SAT/ACT requirements and application deadlines is far more useful than treating the overall percentage as your personal chance of admission.
The supplied keyword “University of Texas -ai” does not correspond to a university in the official UT System directory. This article covers The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), the flagship university most commonly meant by “University of Texas.” Statistics for UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio and other campuses are different and must not be combined with these figures.
What Is the University of Texas Acceptance Rate in 2026?
The latest completed official UT Austin undergraduate acceptance rate is 22.2% for Fall 2025. The university received 90,690 first-year applications, offered admission to 20,154 students, and enrolled 9,900 first-year students.
UT Austin received 98,841 applications for Fall 2026 and enrolled 9,487 first-year students. However, the university’s September 2026 report does not provide the admitted-applicant count needed to calculate the 2026 acceptance percentage.
For Fall 2027 applicants, the university requires official SAT, ACT or qualifying CLT results and continues its Top 5% automatic admission policy for eligible Texas high school students.
Sources: UT Austin Common Data Set and official Fall 2026 enrollment announcement.
UT Austin Acceptance Rate Trends: 2024, 2025 and 2026
Demand for UT Austin has increased sharply. The university received 72,885 first-year applications for Fall 2024, 90,690 for Fall 2025 and 98,841 for Fall 2026.
| Entering class | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 72,885 | 19,417 | 26.6% | 9,210 |
| Fall 2025 | 90,690 | 20,154 | 22.2% | 9,900 |
| Fall 2026 | 98,841 | Not established in the cited announcement | Not yet verified | 9,487 |
The acceptance rate fell by approximately 4.4 percentage points between Fall 2024 and Fall 2025. This happened even though UT Austin admitted slightly more students, because applications increased much faster.
Published acceptance-rate comparison
Bar lengths show the proportion of applicants admitted, not the proportion who eventually enrolled.
Why isn’t a Fall 2026 rate shown?
UT Austin’s September 22, 2026 announcement reports 98,841 applications and 9,487 entering first-year students. The number who enrolled is not the number offered admission.
Until a matching admitted-student total becomes available, dividing 9,487 by 98,841 would produce an enrollment-to-application percentage, not an acceptance rate.
A website displaying 26.6% may be using Fall 2024 statistics. A website displaying 22.2% is reflecting Fall 2025. Neither should be relabeled as the finalized Fall 2026 rate without supporting 2026 admissions data.
UT Austin Acceptance Rate: In-State vs Out-of-State vs International
The overall acceptance rate does not reflect the dramatically different admission outcomes reported for Texas residents, other US applicants and international applicants.
| Fall 2025 applicant group | Applied | Admitted | Calculated rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas residents | 46,879 | 16,828 | 35.9% |
| Out-of-state US students | 35,268 | 2,653 | 7.5% |
| International students | 8,543 | 673 | 7.9% |
| Overall | 90,690 | 20,154 | 22.2% |
These figures help explain why UT Austin can look moderately selective in some older college guides while being an especially difficult option for applicants outside Texas.
For Fall 2025, the Texas-resident rate was 35.9%, compared with just 7.5% for out-of-state domestic applicants.
However, group admission rates are not personalized predictions. Texas automatic-admission rules are one important reason these groups are not directly comparable.
Do not build your college list around the 22.2% overall rate. The historical 7.5% out-of-state rate is more relevant background, but it still does not capture differences by major, academic preparation or individual application strength.
Texas Top 5% Automatic Admission: How the Rule Works in 2026–27
Texas has an automatic admission law for eligible students graduating from Texas high schools. UT Austin implements this through a university-specific class-rank threshold.
For Summer/Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 first-year applicants, UT Austin’s published threshold is the top 5% of the high school graduating class.
Does being in the top 5% guarantee UT Austin admission?
Eligible students satisfying the statutory and university requirements qualify for automatic admission to UT Austin.
But automatic admission to the university is not automatic admission to the student’s first-choice major.
UT Austin continues to evaluate applicants for their selected majors, and competitive programs may require additional review or materials.
| Situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Eligible Texas student in the top 5% | Can qualify for automatic university admission under the applicable rules. |
| Texas student outside the top 5% | Can still be considered through holistic admission. |
| Out-of-state applicant | Does not receive the same Texas-class-rank automatic admission benefit. |
| International applicant | Generally assessed through the appropriate international admissions process. |
| Automatically admitted student requesting a highly competitive major | Major placement remains subject to the university’s separate academic and selection process. |
What about homeschool students?
Texas legislation amended the process for certain applicants with nontraditional secondary education.
UT Austin’s current guidance states that eligible nontraditional applicants for Spring 2027, Summer/Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 may qualify for automatic admission with an official SAT composite of 1570 or higher or ACT composite of 36, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.
If you’re an eligible Texas high school student in the top 5%, admission to the university may be automatic, but you should still put substantial effort into the essays, major selection and any supplemental requirements. The academic program you enter will shape the actual college experience.
Official source: UT Austin review and automatic admission rules.
What GPA Do You Need to Get Into UT Austin?
UT Austin does not establish a single universal high school GPA that guarantees freshman admission.
Unlike universities that publish a straightforward average entering GPA, UT Austin’s current public Common Data Set is more useful for understanding applications, residency differences and its holistic review requirements than for identifying one official average GPA target for all students.
Why class rank matters
For many eligible Texas applicants, official class rank carries a special legal significance through the automatic admission process.
Outside that automatic category, the university reviews the applicant’s academic record, strength of courses, positive academic trends and preparation for the intended field.
| Your academic situation | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|
| 4.0 unweighted GPA with strong course rigor | A strong academic foundation, but not a guarantee of competitive-major admission. |
| 3.7–3.9 GPA | Potentially competitive in some contexts, with major choice, class rank and curriculum being important. |
| 3.3–3.6 GPA | More uncertain for highly competitive UT Austin programs, especially outside Texas. |
| Lower GPA with a strong upward trend | Improvement can provide helpful context, but the overall academic record still matters. |
These are qualitative planning examples, not officially published admission-probability bands.
Does UT Austin prefer AP, IB and honors coursework?
UT Austin considers the strength of a student’s academic preparation and the courses available at the high school.
Advanced courses can demonstrate readiness, but choosing an excessively difficult schedule that damages performance is not automatically a better strategy.
Ask your high school counselor how your official class rank is calculated and certified. A weighted GPA of 4.5 at one school may not mean the same thing as 4.5 at another.
The university’s automatic admission system depends on qualifying class rank and related requirements, not simply whether a student’s reported GPA sounds high.
UT Austin SAT and ACT Requirements for Fall 2027
UT Austin is not test-optional for current first-year admission. The university requires applicants to submit at least one qualifying standardized test result.
Applicants can provide an official SAT, ACT or qualifying Classic Learning Test score under its current policy.
| Testing requirement | Official guidance |
|---|---|
| SAT | Accepted; official score required. |
| ACT | Accepted; official score required. |
| Classic Learning Test | Qualifying official CLT score accepted under the current freshman application instructions. |
| SAT reporting code | 6882 |
| ACT reporting code | 4240 |
| SAT Essay | Not required. |
| ACT Writing | Not required. |
| ACT Science subsection | Not required. |
What SAT score is competitive at UT Austin?
UT Austin’s latest Common Data Set confirms that standardized testing is required, but it does not provide a complete, reliable current SAT composite middle-50% percentile table comparable to the data published by some other universities.
Older SAT ranges found on admissions websites may refer to cohorts admitted before the university reinstated its testing requirement. They should not automatically be labeled the official Fall 2026 or Fall 2027 SAT range.
Should you aim for a 1400 or 1500?
A stronger SAT or ACT result can help demonstrate academic preparation, particularly for competitive majors and applicants who do not benefit from automatic admission.
But UT Austin does not publish a score that guarantees admission to Computer Science, Business, Engineering or other majors.
If you are already in the Texas top 5% automatic-admission group, testing remains a required part of the application under the current policy, and your major choice may still be competitive.
UT Austin permits students to self-report scores in MyStatus after requesting them, but the official testing-agency results must arrive by the appropriate document deadline.
For Fall 2027 Early Action, that supplemental-material deadline is October 22, 2026. For Regular Decision, it is December 10, 2026.
UT Austin Acceptance Rates for Computer Science, Business, Engineering and Nursing
One of the biggest admissions mistakes is treating UT Austin’s 22.2% overall admission rate as the acceptance percentage for every major.
The university evaluates students for admission and major placement. Individual colleges may have supplemental application requirements, different academic expectations or limited capacity.
| Undergraduate area | Important admission consideration | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Highly competitive major selection; no verified 2026 major-specific acceptance percentage in the general CDS. | Mathematics, computing experiences, challenging coursework and convincing explanations of academic interest. |
| McCombs School of Business | Competitive business-school admission. | Quantitative coursework, academic achievement and meaningful activities or work experience. |
| Cockrell School of Engineering | Strong math and science preparation and degree-specific review. | Calculus readiness, laboratory sciences and relevant technical experience. |
| School of Nursing | Professional program with distinct academic requirements and curricular sequencing. | Science preparation, program eligibility and direct-admission conditions. |
| College of Fine Arts | Certain majors require auditions, portfolios or other supplemental materials. | Check the academic department’s application instructions and separate deadline. |
| College of Liberal Arts | Strong academic and written application appropriate to the intended field. | Subject preparation, reading, writing and evidence of curiosity. |
What is the UT Austin Computer Science acceptance rate?
UT Austin’s overall Common Data Set does not provide an officially verified separate first-year Computer Science acceptance rate for Fall 2026.
That means applicants should be cautious of websites that publish precise CS admission percentages without a corresponding university report.
Does automatic admission guarantee Computer Science?
No. The Texas Top 5% policy addresses eligibility for university admission. It does not guarantee placement into an applicant’s preferred degree program.
Can you enter another UT major and switch later?
Some programs have internal transfer processes that are highly competitive or subject to space and prerequisite requirements.
A student whose real goal is Computer Science, Business or Engineering should not assume that entering a less competitive major guarantees an easy transfer later.
“If I am admitted to UT Austin but not to my first-choice major, what degree can I begin, and what specific requirements would apply if I later request an internal transfer?”
Getting a clear answer may prevent expensive changes in academic plans after enrollment.
UT Austin Application Deadlines for Fall 2027
UT Austin has published specific Early Action and Regular Decision dates for applicants planning to enter in Summer or Fall 2027.
Applicants can prepare the required undergraduate application and supporting materials.
Applicants using Early Action must submit the application by this date.
Supplemental materials, including required official test results, must arrive by this deadline.
Final ordinary first-year application deadline for Summer/Fall 2027.
Remaining required materials must be received.
Early Action applicants receive either an admission decision or a deferral notification.
Regular Decision applicants and deferred Early Action applicants receive decisions by this date.
Honors-related decisions are scheduled for release.
Admitted students ordinarily accept their offer and satisfy the enrollment deposit requirement.
Does Early Action increase admission chances?
Early Action offers an earlier decision process but is not binding.
UT Austin does not publish a sufficiently detailed official Early Action acceptance-rate comparison to establish that submitting by October 15 automatically increases an applicant’s chances.
The application deadline and document deadline are separate. For example, submitting your Early Action application on October 15 does not mean you can send required official SAT/ACT results whenever you want.
How to Build a Strong UT Austin Application
UT Austin uses an individualized holistic review, including high school coursework, GPA trends, relevant experiences, major interests, essays and other information.
The strongest application is not necessarily the one with the longest extracurricular list. It is one that helps an admissions reader understand the applicant’s interests, readiness and contributions.
Choose a first-choice major you genuinely want
Read the curriculum and major-specific requirements before selecting a degree. The intended major is not a minor administrative detail at UT Austin.
Make your academic preparation clear
Use official transcripts, class rank and accurate course reporting. Strong grades in courses related to your chosen program can provide useful evidence.
Write an essay based on real experiences
UT Austin requires an essay and short answers. Avoid vague statements about wanting to change the world. Explain something you actually did, explored or learned.
Show depth in activities
An optional resume can provide details about leadership, employment, family responsibility, academic projects and community work. Include what you did and how much time you committed.
Meet the testing requirement early
Plan SAT, ACT or qualifying CLT testing with enough time for official scores to be delivered before the relevant supplemental-document deadline.
Check MyStatus
MyStatus becomes available after application submission. Monitor it for missing items and further requests, rather than assuming your application is complete just because you clicked submit.
Should you include optional recommendation letters?
UT Austin allows up to two letters of recommendation. Letters should provide information that the application does not already communicate.
A mentor, teacher or other person who knows your work well can be useful. The strongest letter is not necessarily from the person with the most impressive job title.
If your time outside school has been spent working, helping a family business or caring for relatives, those experiences may show responsibility and growth. You do not need to invent glamorous extracurricular achievements to tell a meaningful story.
Official reference: UT Austin first-year application requirements.
UT Austin Transfer Admission and the CAP Alternative
Students who are not admitted as first-year applicants may consider transfer admission or alternative entry pathways, but these are not guaranteed shortcuts into every competitive major.
External transfer applicants
UT Austin’s published Fall 2027 transfer deadline is March 1, 2027, with supplemental materials due March 10.
Transfer admission involves reviewing previous college coursework, degree preparation and the intended academic program.
What is the Coordinated Admission Program?
The Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) is a pathway offered to certain eligible Texas freshman applicants.
Students begin at a participating UT System institution and complete prescribed coursework and GPA requirements before transitioning to UT Austin under program rules.
CAP does not promise admission to every UT Austin major. Students should examine the academic college and major placement limitations before accepting a CAP invitation.
International Admission at UT Austin
The Fall 2025 Common Data Set reports 8,543 international first-year applications and 673 admission offers, giving a calculated international acceptance rate of approximately 7.9%.
This is a historical university-wide international applicant-group rate. It does not establish a separate rate for Computer Science, Engineering, Business or any particular nationality.
English-language and academic requirements
International applicants should check UT Austin’s current requirements for school records, English proficiency, test results and translations where applicable.
The university also has a required standardized testing policy for first-year applications. Do not confuse English-language testing requirements with SAT/ACT/CLT academic testing.
Do not invent a US high school GPA conversion when presenting results from another school system. Follow the university’s transcript and academic coursework instructions, including required translations or school documentation.
UT Austin Tuition, Financial Aid and the Texas Advance Commitment
UT Austin’s cost varies greatly between Texas residents and nonresidents. Families should compare not only admission chances but the complete cost of attendance.
For 2026–27, the university’s Common Data Set includes typical undergraduate budgeting figures of approximately $33,306 for a Texas resident and $66,466 for a nonresident, using the published tuition and on-campus living estimates. Actual charges may vary by academic college and student circumstances.
Texas Advance Commitment
UT Austin’s Texas Advance Commitment covers full tuition for eligible Texas residents whose families have adjusted gross income up to $100,000, subject to eligibility rules.
Eligible families with income between $100,000 and $125,000 may qualify for partial tuition assistance.
This does not mean room, meals, transportation and personal expenses are automatically free.
Completing your financial aid application before January 15 is the university’s published recommendation for maximizing aid eligibility. Review the exact aid instructions for the 2027 entry cycle.
Source: UT Austin’s Texas Advance Commitment and student outcomes announcement.
Austin-Specific Tips for Future UT Students
UT Austin’s main campus, popularly called the Forty Acres, sits near the Texas State Capitol and downtown Austin.
This urban setting provides access to professional opportunities, cultural venues and research institutions, but also raises practical questions about housing, transportation, Texas summer weather and daily expenses.
Visit your academic college
A general campus tour is useful, but engineering students should investigate Cockrell facilities, computing applicants should explore relevant teaching spaces, and business applicants should learn about McCombs coursework.
Check housing early
UT Austin permits students to apply for university housing once their admission application is complete. Housing is offered on a first-come, first-served basis under its published process.
Plan for Austin weather
Summer and early fall heat can affect commuting, walking between classes and outdoor activities. Visit during a realistic academic day rather than judging the campus only by photos.
Compare transportation routes
Students considering off-campus accommodation should compare commute times, parking, public transportation and rent before signing a lease.
“Does admission to my requested major guarantee access to the classes I need in the first year, and what happens if I receive admission to a different major?”
This question can be especially important for applicants considering Engineering, Computer Science, Business or another popular program.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Texas Acceptance Rate 2026
What is the University of Texas at Austin acceptance rate for 2026?
The latest complete official acceptance rate is 22.2% for Fall 2025, based on 20,154 admission offers from 90,690 applications. UT Austin received 98,841 Fall 2026 applications, but its September 2026 announcement did not provide the admitted-student total needed to calculate a final 2026 rate.
Is University of Texas -ai an official university name?
No. The official UT System directory does not list a university named “University of Texas -ai.” This guide covers the University of Texas at Austin. UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio and other UT System universities have different admissions statistics.
What is UT Austin’s out-of-state acceptance rate?
For Fall 2025, UT Austin received 35,268 out-of-state domestic applications and admitted 2,653 students, giving a calculated out-of-state acceptance rate of approximately 7.5%.
What is UT Austin’s acceptance rate for Texas residents?
For Fall 2025, UT Austin reported 46,879 Texas-resident applications and 16,828 admission offers, giving a calculated in-state acceptance rate of approximately 35.9%.
Does the Top 5% rule guarantee admission to UT Austin?
Eligible Texas high school students in the top 5% may qualify for automatic university admission for Summer/Fall 2027. Automatic university admission does not guarantee admission to the student’s selected academic major.
Does UT Austin require SAT or ACT scores in 2026?
Yes. UT Austin requires at least one qualifying official SAT, ACT or Classic Learning Test score for current first-year admission. The SAT reporting code is 6882 and the ACT reporting code is 4240.
What GPA do you need for UT Austin?
UT Austin does not publish one universal minimum GPA guaranteeing admission. Its review considers high school coursework, academic performance, class rank, GPA trends and major preparation. Eligible Texas students may qualify for automatic university admission through the Top 5% policy.
What is the UT Austin Computer Science acceptance rate?
UT Austin’s university-wide Common Data Set does not establish a separate official 2026 first-year Computer Science acceptance rate. Admission to UT Austin does not automatically guarantee admission to Computer Science.
When is UT Austin’s Fall 2027 application deadline?
Early Action applications are due October 15, 2026, with supplemental materials due October 22. Regular applications are due December 1, 2026, with supplemental materials due December 10. Early Action notifications are scheduled by January 15, 2027, and final decisions by February 15.
What is UT Austin’s international acceptance rate?
For Fall 2025, UT Austin reported 8,543 international first-year applicants and 673 admission offers, producing a calculated international acceptance rate of approximately 7.9%.
Official University of Texas Admissions Sources
The following official university and system resources provide the main statistics and application rules discussed above.
- UT Austin Common Data Set Archive — Historical applicant, admitted-student and enrollment information, including the 2025–26 report.
- Fall 2026 Enrollment Announcement — Record 98,841 first-year applications and 9,487 enrolling freshmen.
- Fall 2025 Enrollment and Financial Aid Announcement — Application growth, freshman enrollment, retention and Texas Advance Commitment information.
- Official Freshman Application — Deadlines, fees, required testing, transcripts, essays, recommendations and MyStatus.
- Admission Review and Automatic Admission — Holistic review, Top 5% threshold and nontraditional education provisions.
- Admissions FAQs — Application choices, majors and decision procedures.
- International Undergraduate Admission — Application procedures and requirements for international students.
- Visit and Explore UT Austin — Campus tours, Austin location and student information.
- Official UT System Institutions Directory — Distinguishes UT Austin from the other University of Texas institutions.
Research reviewed October 15, 2026. Fall 2025 acceptance rates are calculated from admission offers divided by applications. Fall 2026 admissions applications and enrolled-student totals do not by themselves establish an acceptance rate. Rates are specific to UT Austin and must not be combined with data for other UT System universities.
Final Assessment: How Competitive Is UT Austin?
UT Austin is highly selective, especially for students applying from outside Texas. Its latest complete first-year acceptance rate is 22.2%, but the Fall 2025 out-of-state and international admission rates were both below 8%.
The Top 5% automatic admission rule is particularly important for eligible Texas students, although admission to the university and admission to a competitive major are different decisions.
Applicants should prepare strong academic records, meet the required standardized testing rules, choose majors thoughtfully and submit all documents by the relevant deadlines.
The most useful question is not simply whether you can get into UT Austin. It is whether you can enter a degree program that genuinely fits your academic goals, understand its progression requirements and afford the full cost of attending.