The University of Texas at Austin
Texas's flagship public research university on the Forty Acres, with top-ranked business, engineering and computing programs.
- Acceptance rate
- 22%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
- Students
- 55,172
- 44,675 undergraduates
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 22:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $42,554
- From · 2026-27
About UT Austin
The University of Texas at Austin opened in 1883 on the 'Forty Acres' just north of the Texas State Capitol and is the flagship of the UT System. It is one of the largest universities in the country, with a record 55,172 students in fall 2026, including 44,675 undergraduates. The most recent freshman class of 9,487 was chosen from 98,841 applications.
Teaching is spread across 16 colleges and schools. Undergraduates apply to a specific major, and the competitiveness of that major is part of the review. McCombs School of Business (No. 6 for undergraduate business in U.S. News' 2027 edition) and the Cockrell School of Engineering (No. 11, with Petroleum Engineering No. 1) are the best-known units, alongside Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Moody College of Communication and the Jackson School of Geosciences. Honors options include Plan II, Turing Scholars in computer science and Business Honors.
UT suits self-starters who want flagship-scale resources, including seven museums, 17 libraries, SEC athletics and an energetic capital city. Classes and bureaucracy can feel big, so it rewards students who find a niche early through honors programs, research or one of the university's many student organizations.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis
“Education is the Guardian of the State” — university motto
Why students choose UT Austin
Texas residents with family income up to $100,000 and demonstrated need get tuition covered through the Texas Advance Commitment, and families up to $125,000 get tuition support.
In U.S. News' 2027 edition, 20 of UT's 37 evaluated undergraduate programs rank in the national top 10, including Accounting (No. 3) and Petroleum Engineering (No. 1).
Honors programs such as Plan II, Turing Scholars and Business Honors give a small-college cohort inside a very large university.
UT's four-year graduation rate reached a record 77.7% in 2026, and the university awarded 16,801 degrees in 2025-26.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
About 1 in 5 applicants is admitted
20,154 admitted from 90,690 applicants
Texas law sets automatic admission for Texas students ranked in the top 5% of their high school class (fall 2027 applicants), and these students fill 75% of spaces for Texas residents. All other applicants, including out-of-state and international students, go through holistic review for a limited number of seats, and admission is also to a specific major.
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 daysOctober 15, 2026
Supplemental materials due October 22. Decision or deferral by January 15, 2027.
- Regular Deadline Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Supplemental materials due December 10. All decisions by February 15, 2027; Honors decisions March 1.
Dates are for summer/fall 2027 entry. The admissions site confirms the 2027 decision dates.
How to apply
Common App or ApplyTexas ($75 fee, waivers available); one essay of 500-650 words (the Common App personal essay counts); two required short answers of about 250-300 words (why your first-choice major; the activity you are proudest of); transcript with class rank; official SAT/ACT; optional resume and recommendations; major-specific items for some programs
What admissions looks for
- Class rank and the strength of your academic background.
- Test scores (an SAT or ACT is required).
- Achievements, honors and awards, plus special accomplishments, work and service in and out of school.
- Your essay and short answers, especially why you chose your first-choice major.
- How competitive your chosen major is. Recommendations are considered but not required.
Tips for applying to UT Austin
- 1 Choose your first- and second-choice majors carefully. Admission is by major, and the required short answer asks why you picked your first choice.
- 2 Apply by the October 15 Early Action deadline to get a decision or deferral by January 15.
- 3 Send official SAT/ACT scores from the testing agency by the deadline. Self-reporting in MyStatus alone doesn't complete the application.
- 4 If you're not in the automatic-admission top 5%, use the optional resume (with hours per week and weeks per year) and recommendations to add detail your transcript can't show.
- 5 Check the college or school pages for both your first- and second-choice majors, because some majors require extra items by the same deadline.
What are your chances?
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Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
The Texas Advance Commitment covers tuition for Texas residents with family AGI up to $100,000 and demonstrated need, and gives tuition support up to $125,000. Out-of-state students pay nonresident tuition. Some institutional aid does reach international undergraduates: 832 received awards averaging $21,343 (CDS 2025-26).
- $32,508-$35,386
- Texas residents, estimated cost of attendance 2026-27
- $64,204-$72,916
- Non-residents, estimated cost of attendance 2026-27
- Family AGI up to $100,000 with need
- Texas Advance Commitment: tuition covered
- Family AGI $100,000-$125,000 with need
- Texas Advance Commitment: tuition support
- 832, averaging $21,343
- International undergraduates awarded institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
McCombs BBA
No. 6 undergraduate business program in U.S. News' 2027 edition; Accounting is No. 3.
Petroleum Engineering (Cockrell)
Ranked No. 1 in the nation for undergraduates (U.S. News 2027).
Plan II Honors
An interdisciplinary liberal arts honors program that is a major in its own right.
Turing Scholars
Honors program in computer science, one of several college-based honors programs at UT.
Chemical and Civil Engineering
Both rank No. 4 nationally among undergraduate programs (U.S. News 2027).
Research
- UT ranked No. 1 in the US for research funded by the National Science Foundation (UT News, January 2026).
- The Texas Advanced Computing Center at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus operates a series of academic supercomputers.
- The Harry Ransom Center holds one of 21 complete Gutenberg Bibles and the first permanent photograph.
- UT operates McDonald Observatory in West Texas.
Schools & faculties
- Cockrell School of Engineering
- McCombs School of Business
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Liberal Arts
- Moody College of Communication
- College of Fine Arts
- Jackson School of Geosciences
- School of Architecture
- College of Education
- School of Nursing
- Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
- School of Law
Student life
UT is a huge, spirited campus centered on the Tower and the South Mall. In fall 2025, 61% of first-years lived in university housing across 15 residence halls in North and South Campus. Jester Center, with room for 2,945 students, is the largest. Most upper-year students move to West Campus apartments or elsewhere in Austin. Longhorn athletics in the SEC, the Hook 'em hand sign and Bevo the longhorn mascot are part of daily life.
- The Texas Longhorns compete in NCAA Division I and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
- Seven museums on campus, including the Blanton Museum of Art and the LBJ Presidential Library.
- Greek life is organized across six councils, alongside many other registered student organizations.
- Honors programs across several colleges, including Plan II and the Dean's Scholars Program in Natural Sciences.
Housing. On-campus housing is optional. 61% of first-years but only 17% of all undergraduates lived in university housing in fall 2025.
Location
Austin is the Texas state capital and a fast-growing tech and music city. Campus sits just north of the Capitol and downtown. Students use the Drag (Guadalupe Street), West Campus and neighborhoods across the city, and the city is known for its live music scene and outdoor spaces. Summers are long and very hot.
Nearest airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Notable alumni
- LB Laura BushFormer First Lady of the United States
- MD Michael DellFounder and CEO of Dell Technologies
- JB James BakerUS Secretary of State
- WC Walter CronkiteCBS Evening News anchor
- MM Matthew McConaugheyAcademy Award-winning actor
- WA Wes AndersonFilm director; wrote Bottle Rocket with Owen Wilson while at UT
- JJ Janis JoplinRock and Roll Hall of Fame singer
- KD Kevin DurantNBA MVP and four-time scoring champion
Frequently asked questions
What is UT Austin's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025 entry, UT admitted 20,154 of 90,690 first-year applicants, about 22%. Rates are much lower for non-automatic and out-of-state applicants and for competitive majors.
Does UT Austin require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Freshman applicants must send at least one official SAT or ACT score from the testing agency, and CLT scores are also accepted.
What is automatic admission at UT Austin?
Texas students ranked in the top 5% of their high school class are automatically admitted for summer/fall 2027, though not necessarily to their chosen major. Automatic admits fill 75% of Texas-resident spaces.
When are UT Austin's deadlines for fall 2027?
Early Action is due October 15, 2026, with decisions or deferrals by January 15, 2027. The regular deadline is December 1, 2026, with all decisions by February 15, 2027. Neither plan is binding.
How much does UT Austin cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, non-resident tuition runs from $42,554 to $51,106 depending on program, and the estimated total cost of attendance is $64,204-$72,916.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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