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The University of Texas at Austin

The Ivy Scholars guide to UT Austin’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: Austin, Texas

Mascot: Bevo the Longhorn Steer 

Type: Public University

Population: 51,000

About UT Austin

Nearly 140 years ago, The University of Texas at Austin opened with one building, eight professors, and 221 students. Today, UT ranks among the top 40 universities in the world. It supports 51,000 diverse students with top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. And as Texas’ leading research university, UT attracts more than $650 million annually for discovery. In their words – “What starts here changes the world.”

The University of Texas has a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the school has a 37.6% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Currently, there are 8,960 students enrolled. Of those, 56% of those students identify as female, and 44% of those identify as male.

University Culture

The University of Texas strives for excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research, and public service. The university provides superior and comprehensive educational opportunities at the baccalaureate through doctoral and special professional educational levels.

UT Austin’s Values

Learning — A caring community, all of us students, helping one another grow. 

Discovery — Expanding knowledge and human understanding. 

Freedom — To seek the truth and express it. 

Leadership — The will to excel with integrity and the spirit that nothing is impossible. 

Individual Opportunity — Many options, diverse people and ideas, one university. 

Responsibility — To serve as a catalyst for positive change in Texas and beyond.

 

Research

The University of Texas at Austin is proud to be one of the world’s leading research universities. UT researchers work to fight and treat diseases, devise solutions to global problems, address critically important social issues, and improve the human condition in myriad ways. They have 786 U.S. & international patents since 2008 – as well as 6,237 externally sponsored projects.

 

Diversity Breakdown from Fall 2019 Freshman Class

Race/Ethnicity of Students

  • White 37%
  • Asian 25%
  • Hispanic 24%
  • Black 5%
  • Foreign 4%
  • Multiracial 3%
  • American Indian <1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
  • Unknown <1%

UT Austin Essay Topics

  • All freshman applicants must submit a required essay, Topic A in ApplyTexas, and the UT Austin Required Essay in the Coalition application. 
  • Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? 
  • All applicants must submit three required short answers and may submit one optional short answer responding to prompts in your admissions application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words, typically the length of one paragraph. Note Special Requirements: Architecture, Art and Art History, Nursing, and Social Work require additional short answer questions of their applicants.
      • Required Short Answer 1: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major
      • Required Short Answer 2: Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities.
      • Required Short Answer 3: Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

UT Austin Essay Writing Tips

Subject Test Requirements: No Subject tests are required, but it is recommended that a student submit two SAT Subject Tests related to their proposed area of study.

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FAQ Section

When will I receive my admission decision? 

If you complete your application by the priority deadline (November 1), you will receive admission notification by February 1, 2020. This notification may be a final admission decision or a decision deferral to March 1, 2020. If you complete your application by the regular deadline (December 1), you will be notified of a decision no later than March 1, 2020. 

What applications does UT accept?

You have two options when it comes to the application: the ApplyTexas application or the Coalition for College application.

What majors is UT known for?

UT University is research-focused, and some of its popular majors are as followed:
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; 
  • Social Sciences; and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

What ACT score is needed for UT Austin?

  • 25th percentile = 27
  • 75th percentile = 32

Do I have a better chance of getting into UT if I apply ED?

UT-Austin and the College of Natural Sciences do not offer early decision or early action for general admission, and applying early does not influence the admission decision. All applicants who submit complete applications on time are considered for admission.

Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships

As of the 2020-21 school year, the total tuition cost for attending UT Austin is $28,756. This price includes tuition ($11,852), room and board ($11,812), books ($700), transportation ($1,490), and personal expenses ($2,902).

Available Scholarships

All admitted freshman applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. UT offers over 3,000 scholarships to incoming and current students.

Over $46 million in financial aid and scholarships awarded to TX22

  • 54% of entering freshmen receive financial aid
  • 1,968 Pell Grant recipients

Longhorn Fixed Tuition

Longhorn Fixed Tuition is an optional tuition program available only to undergraduate students enrolling at UT for the first time. Longhorn Fixed Tuition rates remain the same for four consecutive academic years. The rates are guaranteed each semester the student is enrolled during this period. Fixed tuition rates are higher than traditional rates because they are based on the projected average flat-rate tuition over the next four years.

Additionally, The University of Texas at Austin wants all high school students to know that college is affordable for everyone. We’ve collaborated with the college access platform RaiseMe to reward students for studying hard, volunteering, and getting involved in their community. And those activities will be rewarded with scholarships to help you join us on the Forty Acres. 

Students from selected low-income high schools across the state of Texas will be eligible to earn incremental, achievement-based “micro-scholarships” to reward their progress toward building a successful foundation for an undergraduate experience at UT Austin.

National Rankings of UT Austin

Rankings Reported by UT Austin

  • #1 in Petroleum Engineering, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #4 in Chemical Engineering U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #5 Undergraduate Business School, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #6 in Civil Engineering U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #7 in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #11 Undergraduate Engineering Program, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #14 Top Public National University, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • #31 Center for World University Rankings, World University Rankings, 2018-2019
  • #31 World Reputation Rankings, Times Higher Education, 2019
  • #36 Best Global Universities, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
  • Two schools and more than 20 programs among the nation’s best, U.S. News & World Report, 2020

Rankings According to U.S. News’ 2020 Collegiate Rankings:

  • #48 in National Universities
  • #22 in Best Colleges for Veterans
  • #49 in Best Undergraduate Teaching 
  •  #169 in Best Value Schools
  •  #12 in Most Innovative Schools
  • #134 in Top Performers on Social Mobility 
  • #14 in Top Public Schools
  • #5 in Business Programs​

Admission Statistics

In the fall of 2019, 50,576 students applied to UT Austin’s undergraduate program. Of those applicants, 19,482 were admitted, and 8,960 of those admitted enrolled at the school. This puts UT Austin’s acceptance rate at 39% 

UT Austin Acceptance Rate

  • In-state applicants: 48.5%
  • Automatically admitted: 100%
  • Not automatically admitted: 19.5%
  • Out-of-state applicants: 25.9%
  • Freshman Retention Rate
  • 95.1%*

Overall Graduation Rate

  • In four years: 69.8%
  • In six years: 82.8%
  • Middle 50% SAT Score: 1170 – 1410 (out of 1600)
      • Texas Students Automatically Admitted: 1150 – 1400
      • Texas Students Not Automatically Admitted: 1210 – 1420
      • Out-of-State Students: 1290 – 1460
      • International Students: 1260 – 1410
  • ACT Middle 50% Score: 27  – 33
      • Texas Students Automatically Admitted: 25 – 33
      • Texas Students Not Automatically Admitted: 28 – 33
      • Out-of-State Students: 30 – 34
      • International Students: 28 – 33

Admissions Deadlines

When applying to UT Austin, students must commit to one of the 13 specific academic schools; however, one does not need to declare a major until the second semester of sophomore year. 

The priority deadline to apply to UT Austin is November 1st. All completed applications received by November 1 will receive an admission decision by February 1, which may include a deferred decision to March 1st.

The regular decision deadline is December 1st.

The transfer deadline is March 1sh. 

Some schools within the university have specific deadlines of their own.