Is university of Texas Austin difficult to get into?

Yes, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is difficult to get into, with a low overall acceptance rate (around 27%), making it quite selective, especially for out-of-state (OOS) applicants and competitive majors like STEM and Business, due to high demand and Texas's Top 6% Rule for in-state students. Strong academics (high GPA, test scores) are essential, but OOS applicants face much lower odds (around 12%) compared to in-state (around 40%).

What GPA do you need to get into the University of Texas Austin?

UT Austin has varying GPA requirements: freshman applicants typically need a very strong GPA (around 3.83 average) and class rank for competitive majors, while transfers often need at least a 3.0, with many admitted having 3.9+, and specific programs like Engineering have even higher expectations, demanding top grades and rigorous coursework for admission. Requirements also depend on whether you're a Texas resident or out-of-state, your high school performance (top 6% for automatic admission for TX residents), and the competitiveness of your chosen major, with holistic review applying to all. 

Is it really hard to get into UT Austin?

Getting into the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is very difficult, with a recent acceptance rate around 27-29% and high selectivity, especially for out-of-state students or competitive majors like Computer Science, requiring strong academics (high GPA, test scores) and exceptional extracurriculars, leadership, and compelling essays. Texas residents in the top 6% of their high school class get automatic admission (though not always to their first-choice major), but everyone else faces a highly competitive holistic review process. 

Is UT Austin considered a public ivy?

The Public Ivies was a term coined by Richard Moll in this 1985 book, The Public Ivys: A Guide to America's Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities. UT Austin is one of the original 15 schools named in that book, and is still considered a Public Ivy to this day.

What is the 90% rule at UT Austin?

The "UT Austin 90 rule" refers to the state law requiring University of Texas at Austin to reserve about 90% of its freshman spots for Texas residents, with the remaining 10% for out-of-state/international students, making it harder for non-residents to get in. For in-state students, a separate rule, the Top 10 Percent Law, guarantees automatic admission to the top percentage of their high school class, a threshold UT Austin sets annually (currently the top 5% for Fall 2026, previously 6%) to meet the 90% residency requirement and the 75% auto-admit target for residents.
 

Why is UT-Austin so competitive?

What majors is UT Austin good for?

The most popular majors at The University of Texas--Austin include: Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Health Professions and Related Programs; ...

Is it harder to get into UCLA or UT Austin?

It's generally harder to get into UCLA because it has a significantly lower acceptance rate (around 9%) compared to UT Austin (around 27%), making UCLA more selective overall, though UT Austin is very competitive, especially for popular majors like Computer Science or Engineering due to Texas's 90% in-state rule and rising applicant numbers. 

What is the #1 school in Texas?

The #1 ranked public high school in Texas, according to U.S. News & World Report and Niche, is the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), located within the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas. This magnet school consistently ranks at the top statewide and nationally for its rigorous academics and performance in college readiness, often followed closely by other Dallas ISD schools like the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School and the School of Science and Engineering.
 

Why is UT Austin so prestigious?

UT Austin's prestige stems from its status as a leading public research university with top-ranked programs (especially in business, engineering, and communication), attracting immense research funding, producing high-caliber graduates sought by employers, and offering incredible opportunities within the vibrant city of Austin, all contributing to its strong national and global reputation. Its flagship role for Texas fuels innovation, while a highly competitive admissions process, including automatic admission for top Texas high schoolers, underscores its selectivity.
 

Can an average student get into UT Austin?

The acceptance rate at UT Austin is 26.6%.

For every 100 applicants, 27 are admitted. This means the school is very selective. If you meet UT Austin's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in.

What is the hardest school to get into in Texas?

• #1 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Texas. Rice University. ...
• #2 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Texas. Trinity University. ...
• #3 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Texas. University of Texas - Austin. ...
• Take the College Quiz. ...
• Nelson University. ...
• Southwestern University. ...
• LeTourneau University. ...
• Texas Christian University.

Is UT Austin the Harvard of the South?

UT Austin isn't universally called the "Harvard of the South," but it's often grouped with top Southern universities like Duke, Vanderbilt, and Rice, considered a "Public Ivy" or "New Ivy" due to its prestige, selectivity, and strong outcomes, though Duke and Vanderbilt are more frequently given the "Harvard of the South" title by some sources. UT is known for massive resources, strong academics (especially STEM), and high-achieving graduates, making it a premier Southern institution with Ivy-level opportunities.
 

What is the 5% rule at UT Austin?

The UT Austin 5% rule is a change to the university's automatic admission policy, requiring Texas high school students to rank in the top 5% of their graduating class for guaranteed entry, down from the previous 6%, starting with the Fall 2026 freshman class due to record application numbers. This policy, rooted in Texas's "Top Ten Percent Law," allows UT to fill 75% of its Texas resident spots with top-ranked students, while the remaining 25% are admitted through a holistic review.
 

What is the 6% rule at UT?

UT Austin's "Top 6% Rule" is a Texas state law provision that guarantees automatic admission for Texas residents who graduate in the top 6% of their high school class, though this is changing to the top 5% for students applying for Fall 2026; it ensures a significant portion of UT's in-state students come from diverse Texas high schools, but it doesn't guarantee entry to specific competitive majors, only to the university itself.
 

What is the out of state acceptance rate for UT Austin?

UT Austin's out-of-state acceptance rate for 2025 hovers around 10%. Of the 23,015 first-year students who applied, only 2,332 were accepted. The majority of UT Austin's admitted students are Texas residents.

What famous people went to UT Austin?

Here are some alumni you may recognize:

• Alison Eakle. Chief Content Officer, Shondaland.
• Raymond Mansfield. Producer.
• Matthew McConaughey. Actor, Author, Philanthropist, Professor.
• Robert Rodriguez. Director, Producer, CEO of El Rey TV Network.
• Glen Powell. Actor, Writer, Producer.
• Noël Wells. Actress, Writer, Director.

Is UT Austin a party school?

UT Austin, like many large universities, does have a lively social scene that includes parties. This might be what people are referring to when they label UT Austin as a "party school." However, it's essential to remember that student experiences will vary immensely depending on their involvements and personal choices.

What is the 90% rule for UT Austin?

The UT Austin 90% rule is a state law requiring that 90% of first-year students must be Texas residents, creating a significant advantage for in-state applicants and making it much harder for out-of-state students to get in, as they compete for only 10% of spots. This rule, combined with the separate requirement to automatically admit top Texas high school students (the "Top 6% Rule"), heavily influences UT's highly selective admissions, especially for competitive majors like Computer Science or Engineering. 

Is UT Austin becoming an ivy?

Yes, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is recognized as a "New Ivy" by Forbes, joining other top public and private schools outside the traditional Ivy League due to its strong academic performance, selectivity, and high employer satisfaction, offering similar prestige and outcomes as the Ivies.
 

Is it harder to get into A&M or UT Austin?

Overall, Texas A&M offers a significantly higher acceptance rate compared to UT Austin. If your GPA or SAT/ACT scores aren't the highest, you'll likely have an easier time being accepted into Texas A&M. Conversely, if your grades and test scores are strong, you stand a good chance of getting into UT Austin.

Can you get a full ride to UT Austin?

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship for The University of Texas at Austin.

Is UT Austin worth it?

UT Austin is one of the most popular and applied-to universities in the country (ranked #16 for total first-year applications), and deservedly so. For in-state residents, it offers an extremely affordable education with many top-notch academic programs.