University of Texas at Austin 2026 Admission Statistics

Admissions Snapshot: University of Texas at Austin

• Acceptance rate: 29.1% (19,253 admitted from 66,109 applicants)
• SAT middle 50%: Reading 620–730 · Math 610–760
• ACT middle 50%: 27–33
• Testing policy for 2026–27 applicants: SAT or ACT required
• Undergraduate enrollment: 42,855
• Published tuition: $11,688 in-state · $44,908 out-of-state
• Average net price after aid: $19,857

Admissions figures describe the fall 2023 entering class, the most recent year we hold verified figures for, from the federal IPEDS survey in GoodGoblin's database. They match our University of Texas at Austin admissions page. Testing policy is from the Common App 2026–27 requirements grid; enrollment and cost are from the federal College Scorecard. See how your profile compares with GoodGoblin's college match.

University of Texas at Austin Admission Guide

What starts here changes the world; just make sure your application shows how you’ll change the Forty Acres first.

Why read this?

If you’re a rising senior planning to apply this cycle, UT Austin’s 2024-25 Common Data Set (CDS) is a gold mine of intel. Instead of parsing 29 PDF pages, use this narrative cheat-sheet to see real admit rates, test score bands, scholarship deadlines, and insider tips, then build an application that yells Hook ’em.

The Admission Landscape: Numbers in Plain English

• 66,109 first-year applications for the fall 2023 entering class.
• 19,253 offers → overall admit rate 29.1% (federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023).
• 9,210 freshmen enrolled → ≈ 47 % yield, a powerful in-state draw.
• Automatic admission: Texas students in the top 6 % of their high-school class are guaranteed a seat, major not guaranteed.
• Waiting list used. UT offered spots to more than 2,000 candidates and admitted several hundred; opt-in if offered.

Academic Profile of the 2024-25 Admitted Class

• SAT or ACT required for 2026–27 applicants.
  • Middle-50 SAT 620–730 reading, 610–760 math.
  • Middle-50 ACT 27–33 (federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023).
  • Submit your strongest SAT or ACT score.
• GPA heft. Most admits sport an unweighted 3.8 + and 10–14 AP/IB/Honors courses.
• Course rigor matters. Four years each of math, science (including physics or chem), English, social studies, plus foreign language through level III.
• Holistic but data-driven. Beyond the top-6 % rule, UT still weighs essays, expanded résumé, leadership, and talent heavily.

What UT Austin Values (and How to Show It)

• Intellectual vitality: Show concrete outcomes, published research, patents, or state‑level academic awards.
• Impact & leadership: Quantify results: “Founded nonprofit distributing 3,000 STEM kits to rural Texas schools” beats generic volunteerism.
• Fit with major: Tie experiences to specific UT programs (e.g., Freshman Research Initiative, Longhorn Band, Texas Robotics).
• Diversity of thought: Essays that reveal resilience, bilingualism, community advocacy, or first‑generation perspective stand out.
• State pride: Texas applicants should highlight service to local communities; out‑of‑state applicants should articulate how UT (and Austin) advance their goals.

The Money Question

• Projected sticker 2025-26 (annual).
  • Texas resident tuition & fees: ~$11,700
  • Non-resident tuition & fees: ~$44,900
  • Housing & dining: ~$14,800
  • Estimated cost of attendance:
    • In-state ≈ $27,000
    • Out-of-state ≈ $60,000
• Average need met: about 61 % with an average freshman grant package ~$15,000.
• Merit money. Forty Acres, Terry, and Presidential Scholars can cover full cost, apply by Nov 1 and submit a competitive test score.
• FAFSA priority (and Texas TASFA for undocumented Texans): March 15 last cycle; confirm this cycle’s date.

Last Cycle’s Timeline (Class of 2030)

Dates below are from the 2025‑26 cycle. Confirm this cycle’s dates on the official UT Austin admissions site.

Summer 2025

• Open your ApplyTexas app on Aug 1 (or the Common App).
• Draft the Essay A personal statement plus two short answers.
• Build a quantified résumé (activities section max 8 entries, depth beats breadth).

Early Fall 2025

• Aug 15 – Sept 15: Submit if you qualify for automatic admission, earlier files read sooner.
• Nov 1: Priority deadline for Honors, Engineering, Business Honors, and major merit awards.
• Attend a Longhorn Monday campus tour or join a virtual info session.

Winter 2026

• Dec 15. Priority decisions begin rolling out; scholarship invites follow in January.
• Appeal financial aid offers by mid-February with competitor awards in hand.

Spring 2026

• May 1. Enrollment deposit ($200) due.
• Housing portal opens within 48 hours of deposit; pick preferences fast. Jester fills early.
• Register for Freshman Orientation (required) by mid-May.

Life on the Forty Acres

• 20 : 1 student-faculty ratio; honors sections drop below 20.
• Residential vibe. 95 % of freshmen live on campus. Jester and Kinsolving are the classics, but Moody and Honors Quad offer quieter digs.
• Traditions. Lighting the Tower burnt orange after big wins, carving your name on the UT Austin Main Mall grass (don’t!), and singing “The Eyes of Texas” at games.
• Research pipeline. $900 M+ annual research budget means freshmen land lab spots in CNS, Cockrell School, and Dell Medical projects.
• Austin advantage. Intern with Tesla’s Gigafactory, South by Southwest, or a dozen VC-backed startups on Sixth Street, all 15 minutes by bus.

Quick-Hit Checklist

• [ ] Maintain unweighted GPA ≥ 3.8 with AP/IB rigor.
• [ ] Submit an SAT or ACT score (required for 2026–27); aim for SAT ≥ 1350 or ACT ≥ 30.
• [ ] Cultivate one standout impact project by August.
• [ ] Apply by the honors and merit priority deadline (Nov 1 last cycle); the final deadline was Dec 1 last cycle.
• [ ] File FAFSA/TASFA by this cycle’s priority deadline (Mar 15 last cycle).
• [ ] Reference a UT hallmark (e.g., FRI, Texas Exes, Austin tech scene) in short-answer #2.
• [ ] Celebrate with a late-night taco at Torchy’s after smashing “Submit.”

Final Word

UT Austin marries world-class academics, powerhouse research, and the creative chaos of Austin. Admission is numeric (top-6 % and GPA) but also narrative: essays, résumé, and major fit decide the line between admit and deny. File early, quantify your impact, and speak to how you’ll light the Tower orange, then get ready for sunrise runs along Lady Bird Lake and nights under the Austin City Limits skyline.

Need more structure? GoodGoblin analyzes your stats against UT admit bands, red-flags essay clichés, and builds weekly action plans. Start a free trial and transform ambition into an admit letter.