Is UT Austin a smart school?

Yes, UT Austin (The University of Texas at Austin) is widely considered a smart and prestigious university, recognized as a top public research institution (Tier-1) with highly selective programs, strong academic performance, and excellent career outcomes, attracting high-achieving students nationally and internationally.

Is UT Austin an elite school?

The University of Texas at Austin made the top 10% of a 2025 list of America's Top Colleges. Forbes determined the 500 U.S. colleges with the best educational, financial and career outcomes for undergraduates across 14 metrics. The ranking included both public and private institutions.

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.
 

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.
 

Is UT Austin right for you?

Is UT Austin hard to get into?

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. 

Can a guy and girl share a dorm at UT Austin?

Yes, UT Austin offers gender-inclusive housing through its "Family and Friend Expanded Roommate Option," allowing students to room with any other student regardless of gender in specific residence halls like Blanton, Duren, and Dobie, as part of a program to support diverse living arrangements.
 

Is UT Austin a little 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.

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. 

Is UT an elite school?

The final category of elite universities we will mention are the Public Ivies. These are elite universities that are also public, and include schools like UC Berkeley, the University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UT Austin.

What is the UT Austin culture like?

UT Austin is a community that welcomes a variety of ideas, people and passions. There are many resources available to support students from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Is 1480 a good SAT score for UT Austin?

Yes, a 1480 SAT score is a very good score for UT Austin, placing you at or above the middle 50% of admitted students and giving you a strong chance, especially within competitive programs. While the middle 50% range is often cited as 1230-1490 (or 1230-1480), a 1480 is at the top end of that range, making you a highly competitive applicant alongside strong grades and essays. 

How many UT freshmen live off campus?

During the Fall 2021 semester, 40% of the freshman class at The University of Texas at Austin had to live off campus. During the Fall 2021 semester, 40% of the freshman ... This isn't a new thing. They didn't back in 1997 when I was a Freshman either.

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.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is UT Austin a Nike school?

The University of Texas at Austin on Friday extended its apparel contract with Nike. The new deal — 15 years, $250 million — is the biggest in the history of college sports, school officials say.

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.

Why are people moving from LA to Austin?

A: To paraphrase a long-ago politico, “It's the economy.” A stronger jobs market, overall lower cost of living, and more affordable housing market are fueling the exodus from California to Texas.

Is UT Austin predominantly white?

Race & Ethnicity by Share

The most common race/ethnicity at The University of Texas at Austin is white (6,654 degrees awarded).

What are the 63 hidden Ivies?

The 63 "Hidden Ivies" are a list of excellent, selective colleges outside the traditional Ivy League, known for strong academics, often with liberal arts focuses, broken down into Northeast (37), South (12), Midwest (11), and West (3) regions, including schools like Amherst, Williams, Carleton, Duke, Emory, Stanford, Pomona, and UChicago, offering Ivy-level education without the traditional Ivy League name. 

What is the #1 private school in Texas?

There's no single "number 1" private school in Texas, as rankings vary by source and focus (e.g., Niche ranks St. John's School #1 for private high schools, while others highlight St. Mark's School of Texas, The Hockaday School, or The John Cooper School), but top contenders consistently include St. John's, St. Mark's, Hockaday, Greenhill, and John Cooper, often praised for academics, college prep, and resources.
 

Is Austin, Texas LGBTQ friendly?

Yes, Austin, Texas, is widely considered a very LGBTQ+-friendly city with a vibrant scene, scoring high on inclusivity, featuring numerous gay-friendly spots, diverse neighborhoods, and events like Pride, though state politics present some challenges for LGBTQ+ residents, according to Visit Austin, Texas and Reddit users.
 

What is the most LGBT friendly college?

Top LGBTQ+-friendly colleges often recognized for strong support include Ithaca College, Rutgers University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and University of Maryland (College Park), with many liberal arts colleges like Oberlin, Carleton, and Wesleyan also highly rated for their inclusive environments and resources like LGBTQ+ Centers, mentorship, and supportive policies. Rankings vary, but consistently highlighted schools offer robust campus life, advocacy, and inclusive housing options.