What is the 90 rule for UT Austin?

The "90% rule" for UT Austin is a state law mandating that 90% of its first-year students must be Texas residents, creating a huge advantage for in-state applicants and requiring holistic review for the limited out-of-state spots. Within that in-state pool, Texas high schoolers in the top 5-6% (depending on the year's threshold) are guaranteed automatic admission, filling most of those residency spots, while the rest (and out-of-state) compete through a holistic review.

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.
 

What is the top 5 rule for UT Austin?

The University has determined that it will automatically admit all eligible summer/fall 2027 and spring 2028 freshman applicants who rank within the top 5% of their high school graduating classes.

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. 

What is the 10 rule for UT Austin?

The “Top 10 Percent Law” is the common name for Texas House Bill 588, the state law passed in 1997 that guarantees Texas students who graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class automatic admission to all state-funded universities.

Why Texas Law

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

Yes, UT Austin, through its "Family & Friend Expanded Roommate Option," offers gender-inclusive housing in specific residence halls like Blanton, Duren, Dobie Twenty21, Jester East/West, San Jacinto, and Moore-Hill where students can live with roommates of any gender identity, a program started as a pilot but now a standard option in those halls. This allows for coed living arrangements in rooms or suites with private bathrooms, differing from traditional gender-separated floors.
 

Is 1490 a good SAT score for UT Austin?

Yes, a 1490 SAT score is excellent for UT Austin, placing you at the very top of their middle 50% range (1230-1490), making it a strong academic component for a competitive application, though holistic review means your essays, GPA, and extracurriculars are also crucial. 

Is 1370 a good SAT score for UT Austin?

As anticipated, SAT scores at UT Austin are competitive. The average composite UT Austin SAT score stands at 1370, out of a possible 1600. The 25th percentile for SAT scores falls at 1230, while the 75th percentile rises to 1490. This means that the lowest 25% of scorers scored a composite score of 1230 or below.

Is it better to EA or RD?

Neither Early Action (EA) nor Regular Decision (RD) is inherently "better"; they serve different student needs, with EA offering earlier results and potentially slightly better odds by showing strong interest, while RD provides more time to perfect applications and compare offers, making it better for those needing more prep or time to weigh options, though the RD pool can be more competitive at some schools. Your choice depends on your application strength, interest in the school, and financial needs. 

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. 

Is a 1200 a good SAT score for UT Austin?

If you're wondering about a UT Austin average SAT, aim for the mid-1400s. UT Austin evaluates applications holistically, so scores below 1230 don't automatically disqualify you.

Is UT Austin a tier 1?

Yes, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is widely considered a Tier 1 research university, recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for "very high research activity," often grouped with top public universities like UCLA and UMich, and noted for its strong national and global rankings and significant research grants. While some sources place it slightly lower in overall tiers (like Tier 3) compared to Ivy Leagues, it consistently ranks as the #1 public university in Texas and is a highly selective "Public Ivy".
 

What's a good GPA to get into UT Austin?

Average GPA: 3.83

With a GPA of 3.83, UT Austin requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

How to get into UT Austin without being top 6?

While this new rule makes automatic admission more challenging, it's important to remember that UT Austin offers a holistic admissions process. Even students outside the top 5% have ample opportunity to stand out by focusing on key areas such as fit-to-major extracurriculars and strong SAT or ACT test scores.

Is a 3.9 GPA good for UT Austin?

To be competitive for admission, transfer students need to have an outstanding GPA as most applicants who are admitted have a 3.9 out of 4.0 GPA (or higher).

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; ...

What is the #1 hardest school 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. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to sky-high costs, massive student debt, and a shaky job market where degrees don't guarantee success, leading many to explore lucrative alternatives like trade schools, entrepreneurship, or acquiring digital skills, valuing direct career entry and financial independence over traditional four-year paths. They see past generations struggling with loans and uncertain job prospects, shifting focus to better Return on Investment (ROI), with many regretting college or seeking more practical, cheaper education. 

What was Bill Clinton's SAT score?

Bill Clinton

The 42nd president of the United States scored a 1032—12 points above average—on his SAT. Still, Clinton excelled at Georgetown University, where he majored in Foreign Service and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor in 1973.

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.
 

What SAT score is top 1%?

A top 1% SAT score is generally considered to be 1530 or higher, with scores in the 1530-1600 range falling into the 99th percentile or above, making it an exceptionally strong score competitive for elite universities. While a perfect score is 1600, achieving even 1500+ puts you in the top 1-2% of test-takers, though specific percentiles can vary slightly year to year.
 

What is Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

Can I get into Harvard with a 1490 SAT?

At the most selective private universities, the middle 50% ranges are extremely high. For example, recent data for Harvard show a composite SAT range around 1500–1580, with section ranges of 740–780 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 760–800 for Math.