Why is UT Austin so hard to get into out-of-state?

UT Austin is hard for out-of-state (OOS) students primarily due to state law mandating that ~90% of students be Texas residents, creating a separate, smaller pool for OOS applicants who then compete fiercely for limited spots, often needing near-perfect scores and exceptional qualifications to stand out against other high-achieving OOS applicants and the remaining non-auto-admit Texans. This "Top X% Rule" for Texas residents fills most seats first, making the OOS competition extremely intense, especially for popular majors like Computer Science.

How hard is it to get into UT Austin 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%. UT Austin is becoming increasingly popular among high school students.

What percentage of UT Austin students are 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 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.
 

Why is it hard to get into UT Austin?

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 1470 SAT or a 33 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. For a school as selective as UT Austin, rounding out the rest of your application will also help.

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 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 #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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

Is UT Austin an ivy now?

No, UT Austin is not an official Ivy League school, which are eight specific private universities in the Northeast, but it is widely recognized as a "Public Ivy" and was recently named a "New Ivy" by Forbes, a designation for top public and private universities producing highly-regarded graduates for employers, highlighting its prestige and academic strength.
 

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 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; ...

How hard is McCombs out-of-state?

MCcombs business transfer statistics

The admissions rate for Texas residents is probably around 10%, with the out-of-state admissions rate much lower at around 3%. Competitive applicants will have a 3.9 college GPA or higher.

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.

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.
 

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. 

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 #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. 

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. 

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.
 

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.