Is UT Austin good for out-of-state students?

Yes, UT Austin is a great university for out-of-state (OOS) students in terms of academics and environment, but getting accepted is significantly harder due to Texas law requiring 90% of students to be Texas residents, making it highly competitive and costly with non-resident tuition. While OOS students are welcomed and contribute to diversity, they face lower acceptance rates than in-state students, with only about 10% coming from outside Texas, so strong academics and exceptional applications are crucial.

Is it worth applying to UT Austin out-of-state?

The first thing to know about applying to UT Austin is that state law mandates that 90% of its students come from Texas. That means that Texas applicants have a huge advantage in the admissions process. In fact, only 5% of undergraduates come from out-of-state, and 5% of undergraduates are international.

Does UT Austin accept out-of-state students?

That rate is similar to their overall admissions rate, whereas UT admits Texas residents in significantly higher numbers. So, UT-Austin may be the most competitive university for non-resident and out-of-state applicants in the country.

What percent of UT Austin students are from out-of-state?

Students who are Texas residents make up 80.5% of all students, while another 10.2% are from outside of Texas, representing 48 other U.S. states and the District of Columbia. International enrollment of 5,140 is down 1.7% from 2024 and comprises 9.3% of all students.

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

The UT Austin in-state acceptance rate is 40.97% and the out-of-state acceptance rate is 11.76%.

Should Out of State (OOS) Applicants bother applying for UT-Austin?

What is the 90% rule at UT Austin?

The UT Austin 90% rule refers to Texas state law requiring UT Austin to reserve 90% of its freshman spots for Texas residents, creating a separate, more competitive applicant pool for non-residents. This mandate means most Texas applicants qualify for automatic admission (currently top 6%) if in the top of their high school class, while out-of-state students face significantly lower acceptance rates (around 10%) through holistic review, making it much harder to get in.
 

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

What is the 5% rule at UT Austin?

The UT Austin 5% Rule means Texas high school seniors graduating in the top 5% of their class are guaranteed automatic admission, a change from the previous 6% threshold, effective for students entering Fall 2026; this policy, stemming from Texas's "Top Ten Percent Law," fills 75% of resident spots, with the rest decided holistically, though even top-ranked students need competitive scores for high-demand majors.
 

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 Austin an ivy now?

No, UT Austin is not part of the official Ivy League, but it is widely recognized as a "Public Ivy," a term for top public universities, and was recently included in Forbes' "New Ivies" list for its academic quality and selectivity. While the traditional Ivy League refers to eight specific private universities in the Northeast, UT Austin is considered in the same elite tier by many publications, making it an Ivy-caliber institution in terms of prestige and outcomes.
 

What is the 6% rule at UT?

The UT Austin Top 6% Rule guarantees automatic admission for eligible Texas residents who graduate in the top 6% of their high school class (this is changing to the top 5% for Fall 2026 applicants) under a state law promoting diversity, but it doesn't guarantee entry into specific competitive majors, which still require meeting additional requirements through holistic review. This rule, derived from the statewide Top 10% Law, allows UT Austin to fill 75% of its freshman class with auto-admit students, adjusting the percentage based on application volume. 

How hard is it to get into UT out-of-state?

Key Takeaways: For the 2024-2025 college application cycle, UT Austin's acceptance rate is 26.6%, UT Austin's out-of-state acceptance rate is 10%, and UT Austin's transfer acceptance rate is 22.5%.

Does UT Austin waive out-of-state tuition?

Eligibility is determined by the Office of Admissions Residency. Tuition waivers can vary depending on a student's status and/or benefits. The nonresident portion of tuition is waived for eligible students. Students are responsible for payment of any resident portion of tuition not exempted.

What are some cons of UT Austin?

Cons: Cost: Like many public universities, UT Austin can be quite expensive, particularly for out-of-state students. Students may need to take on significant debt in order to attend. Competitive Environment: UT Austin is a highly competitive environment, with rigorous academic standards and a large student body.

Is UT Austin the Harvard of the South?

UT Austin isn't officially the "Harvard of the South," but it's often called that or a "Public Ivy" due to its strong academics, highly-ranked programs (especially Engineering & Business), national prestige (even being named a "New Ivy" by Forbes), and large, well-funded research environment, offering Ivy-caliber education at a more accessible public university cost, though it's huge and less selective than true Ivies.
 

What is the #1 school in Texas?

There isn't one single "number 1 school" as it depends on whether you mean K-12 public, private, or university, but Rice University often tops private university lists, while Dallas's School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) is frequently ranked as Texas's #1 public high school by outlets like U.S. News & World Report and Niche, and UT Austin is a top public university. 

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

UT Austin and A&M are both great Texas universities. The University of Texas at Austin acceptance rate is lower than A&M. UT Austin admits 31% of applicants, making it harder to get into. The Texas A&M admission rate is 63%.

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 smu better than UT Austin?

When comparing UT Austin and SMU, there are several factors to consider. Academics: Both UT Austin and SMU offer strong academic programs, but UT generally has a higher overall ranking and a broader range of disciplines. However, the specific strength of the programs you're interested in should be your primary concern.

How many people drop out of UT Austin?

First-Time / Full-Time UT Austin Drop Out Rates

1132 first-time / full-time students or 16% did not complete their degree within eight years. Of those who did not finish: 28 are still enrolled.

Is a 1400 SAT score good for UT Austin?

Yes, a 1400 SAT score is a strong score for UT Austin, placing you well within the competitive range, especially for in-state applicants, though admission remains holistic and competitive, with higher scores (1470+) often preferred for out-of-state or top programs like Engineering. For Texas residents, a score of 1400 is very competitive and can be excellent, while for out-of-state students, it's good but aiming higher (closer to 1500) can significantly boost your chances, particularly if you're not auto-admitted. 

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; ...

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.