What top percent does UT Austin accept?

UT Austin automatically admits eligible Texas residents from the top 6% of their high school class, but this will change to the top 5% for students applying for the Fall 2026 and later semesters, due to increased demand and population growth. This "Texas Top Percent Law" guarantees admission for qualifying students, though they still need to meet general requirements and apply.

Does UT Austin accept top 10 percent?

For applicants in the 2026-27 school year, the Austin flagship will only accept the top 5% of high school students, citing population growth and greater demand for UT as reasons to cut the threshold from 6%.

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.
 

Does UT only accept top 6 percent?

The "auto admit" policy at UT Austin guarantees automatic admission to Texas high school students who graduate in the top percentile of their class—historically, the top 6%. Under the new policy starting with the fall 2026 admissions cycle, only students in the top 5% will be automatically admitted.

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.
 

Top 5% Rank Doesn’t Matter for most UT-Austin Applicants

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.
 

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. 

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 hardest college 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. 

What is the #1 college in Texas?

There isn't one single "number 1" college in Texas, as rankings vary by source, but Rice University and Texas A&M University consistently rank at the top, with Rice often leading overall and Texas A&M often topping public university lists, alongside other strong contenders like UT Austin. Rice is frequently cited as the best overall, while Texas A&M is recognized as the top public university by publications like The Wall Street Journal. 

Is a 1400 SAT score good for UT Austin?

Yes, a 1400 SAT score is a very good score for UT Austin, placing you well within or above the typical range for admitted students, especially if you are a Texas resident or applying for less competitive programs; for highly competitive majors (like Engineering or CS) or for out-of-state/international applicants, it's strong but you'll need exceptional essays and extracurriculars to stand out against scores closer to the 1500+ range, according to sources from Next Admit and PrepScholar. 

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 first come first serve?

The University of Austin offers four-year Bachelor of Arts degrees in Liberal Studies via full-time enrollment at our downtown Austin, Texas campus. *Limited spots are reserved for deposited students on a first-come, first-served basis.

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.

Is 1440 a good SAT score for UT Austin?

Final Admissions Verdict

If you're able to score a 1470 SAT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. But if you get a 1240 SAT or below, it'll be a steep uphill battle for you to get admitted.

Does UT offer cap to everyone?

Can any student attending a UT System school participate in CAP? No. To participate in CAP, you must have applied to UT Austin, been offered participation in CAP and returned the online CAP agreement by the deadline.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

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.
 

What college is 100% acceptance rate?

Yes, many colleges have a 100% acceptance rate, often through open admissions policies, meaning they accept all applicants who meet basic requirements, including many community colleges, specialized career schools, and some online or regional universities like Broward College, Empire State University (SUNY), University of Maryland Global Campus, and Utah Valley University, though availability and specific programs vary. These institutions guarantee admission for qualified applicants, focusing on accessibility, with some examples including Delta State University, Montana State University Billings, and the Academy of Art University. 

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 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.

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 was 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.
 

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.

How can I increase my chances of getting into UT?

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into UT Austin

1. Aim to do well in the most challenging classes available.
2. Even though UT Austin doesn't publicize the average GPA of incoming students, you should still aim for the same GPA as similar selective universities. ...
3. Having a competitive transcript is important.