Are you considering joining the Longhorn family? The University of Texas at Austin is home to over 41,300 undergraduates and over 482,000 alumni. As the top public university in Texas (and one of the Public Ivy League Schools), UT Austin offers more than 170 fields of study between its 13 colleges and schools. With its many fields of study—engineering, business, communication, education, architecture, liberal arts, geosciences, and more—the Longhorn family positively impacts communities far and wide. Some of its more notable alumni include Neil deGrasse Tyson, Matthew McConaughey, Stacey Abrams, and Laura Bush.
Whether it’s in entertainment, politics, entrepreneurship, education or other fields, the UT Austin community’s core goal is “to transform lives for the benefit of society,” and what better way to help progress society as a whole than by having a diverse student body. The University of Texas at Austin’s student body brings people together from all over the world, encouraging those in its community to grow.
Throughout this post, you’ll find information that covers several topics—how to get into UT Austin, UT Austin GPA requirements, UT Austin acceptance rate, when to apply and more—that will hopefully help you navigate the UT Austin admissions process.
A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.
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(click to skip ahead)How hard is it to get into UT Austin?
It is fairly difficult to get accepted to The University of Texas at Austin, and generally very difficult for students who aren’t residents of Texas (more on that below). People who successfully get into UT Austin tend to have impressive extracurricular activities, with roughly 80% of applicants having held at least one leadership role in a high school organization or activity. In addition to that, roughly 9% of the class of 2025 was the valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school. So if you get a group of ten Longhorns together, chances are pretty good that one of them was a top performer at their high school.
UT Austin Acceptance Rate
The UT Austin acceptance rate is 31.4%, making it a competitive school to get into. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. For the fall of 2022 alone, UT Austin received a total of 59,767 applications, which is right around the average number of students who attend the university every single year. It’s no wonder close to 60,000 applicants apply to it: it’s considered the number 1 ranked public university in Texas. To get into a school like UT Austin, you will need to perform well in most areas of your college application such as academic GPA, extracurricular activities, application essays, and standardized test scores (should you choose to submit them).
An important caveat regarding UT Austin’s acceptance rate: UT Austin is much, much harder for out-of-state and international students because of their Top 6% rule (automatically admitting kids from the top 6% of their graduating class in Texas). So the overall acceptance rate can be pretty misleading and not really reflect the competition it takes to put together an app if you're not from that state.
UT Austin Priority Deadline Policy
The University of Texas at Austin offers their own version of early decision, which they refer to as priority decision. Applicants that apply to UT Austin’s priority decision by November 1st will receive their decision notification on February 1st. Unlike early action and early decision deadlines, applicants that apply priority decision and regular decision at UT Austin are evaluated together. According to the Office of Admissions, the only difference between the two deadlines is when applicants will receive UT Austin’s decision—either February 1st or March 1st.
The UT Austin transfer acceptance rate is 29% because it received 7,966 applications and accepted 2,306 students.
UT Austin GPA Requirements
Unlike many universities, UT Austin does not publicize GPAs in its Common Data Set, nor is it included in its Freshman Student Profile. While we don’t have any information about the recommended GPA requirements for UT Austin, we can tell you that GPA is one of many factors considered by the Office of Admissions during their holistic review process. If you’re unsure whether your GPA is competitive enough at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average in other sections of your application—standardized test scores, talent and ability, application essays, volunteer work, and more.
If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section (if you’re applying through the Common Application Portal) and the UT Optional essay (if you decide to apply through the ApplyTexas Portal).
What GPA is required for USF?
There is no minimum GPA requirement for UT Austin freshman applicants. GPA is one of nine factors used in UT Austin’s holistic review process. If your GPA is lower than you’d like, try to strengthen the other sections in your application.
UT Austin SAT Requirements
The recommended SAT requirements for UT Austin are a 1230 to 1500 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. Worried that your score isn’t high enough?
Beginning in 2024, UT Austin is again requiring test scores.
UT AustinAverage SAT Composite Score: 1360
| SAT Score Distribution | Reading % | Math % |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 34.80% | 41.10% |
| 600-699 | 45.41% | 35.10% |
| 500-599 | 17.64% | 21.50% |
| 400-499 | 2.13% | 2.10% |
| 300-399 | 0.01% | 0.20% |
| 200-299 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
What SAT score is required for UT Austin?
To be considered a strong applicant to this school, it’s recommended to submit a score between 1300 to 1420. If your score is less than the recommended score, you might consider replacing it with your ACT score, having an above-average GPA, or including impressive extracurricular activities. Below, you’ll find the SAT score distribution for applicants accepted for the fall of 2020.
| SAT Distribution | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 1400 - 1600 | 37.13% |
| 1200 - 1399 | 42.10% |
| 1000 - 1199 | 19.24% |
| 800 - 999 | 1.51% |
| 600 - 799 | 0.03% |
| 400 - 599 | 0.00% |
**The SAT score distribution is from the 2020 - 2021 Common Data Set.
UT Austin ACT Requirements
The recommended ACT requirements for UT Austin are a composite score between 29 to 34 combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. Don’t let these very high ACT composite scores deter you from applying though!
Beginning in 2024, UT Austin is again requiring test scores.
UT Austin Average ACT: 32
| ACT Score Range | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 53.70% |
| 24-29 | 31.70% |
| 18-23 | 13.50% |
| 12-17 | 1.10% |
| 6-11 | 0.00% |
| Below 6 | 0.00% |
**The SAT score distribution is from the 2020 - 2021 Common Data Set.
What ACT score is required for UT Austin?
As a test optional school, UT Austin allows (and encourages) applicants to decide if they should submit their ACT scores or not. If you have an ACT score between 30 to 34, you’d be considered a strong candidate for UT Austin (should you choose to submit your ACT score). If you have a score that falls below the 30 to 34 range, you might consider either omitting your ACT score or compensating in other areas in your application—academic GPA, application essays, and character/personal qualities.
What does UT Austin look for in students?
The biggest thing UT Austin focuses on is a genuine commitment to their core values. When deciding on potential students, UT Austin has several traits it looks for in applicants. According to its official website, ‘The University of Texas at Austin looks for applicants with a genuine commitment to its core values—learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility.”
So how does UT Austin think about these traits? Start by exploring UT Austin’s mission and values, both through its mission statement and through what it outlines in its vision and goals. You might notice, for example, that a lot of the language they use in their mission and vision center on the public good. They talk about their work being for “the benefit of society” and a desire to be “a catalyst for positive change in Texas and beyond.” Reading between the lines there, you can glean that UT wants students who “achieve excellence” not merely for its own sake, but for a greater, more societal purpose.
Learning: The UT Austin community—students, faculty, organizations, and clubs—works together to help each other grow and use their skills to improve their community.
Discovery: UT Austin hopes to work hand-in-hand with its students to develop resources that further human knowledge and understanding.
Freedom: Students and faculty at UT Austin are encouraged to explore their passions and use their education and experiences to search for the truth.
Leadership: Those in the UT Austin community are expected to use their integrity and spirit to pursue what they deem possible.
Individual Opportunity: With the resources, community, and knowledge available, students have the power to explore opportunities tailored to their interests.
Responsibility: It is the duty of UT Austin students and alumni to create a positive change in and out of Texas.
If you align with what UT Austin is looking for and think you can help the university succeed in achieving its core purpose—to transform lives for the benefit of society—then consider applying!
So how can you show UT Austin that you’re what they’re looking for? While grades and test scores can play a role in the selection process, The University of Texas at Austin utilizes a holistic review process, giving you more than enough opportunities to demonstrate who you are and the different values, qualities, and traits you have. Some factors UT Austin takes into consideration are class rank, academic GPA, special achievements, work experience, talent and ability, volunteer work, the UT Expanded Resume, and state residency. Let each one of the factors considered be a chance for you to highlight at least one of the university’s core values: learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility.
How do you see yourself aligning with UT Austin’s mission and these values? What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that UT Austin is the place for you to take your next steps? How will you and the UT community make great partners in trying to solve the world’s problems?
How else can you demonstrate that you and UT Austin fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:
Have you taken on some level of public responsibility in the past? Maybe you’ve led some change or initiative in your school or community? How can you let UT Austin know that?
Where have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so?
Where have you explored your earnest love of learning? Where have you pursued something for the sake of your own curiosity?
How and why have you supported your community?
UT Austin Application Deadlines
The UT Austin application deadline for regular decision is December 1st. Beginning in 2024, the University of Texas-Austin also offers Early Action. UT Austin’s Early Action Deadline is Oct 15th. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the University of Texas-Austin admissions process.
| Notification Plan |
Application Material |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action |
Submit Application + Test Scores |
Oct 15th |
| Admissions Decisions Released |
January 15th |
|
| Regular Decision |
Submit Application + Test Scores |
December 1st |
| Admissions Decisions Released |
Feb 15th |
**UT Austin does not offer early action, but it does offer a priority deadline to US applicants.
UT Austin Priority Deadline Policy
Unlike most early action/early decisions offered by universities, UT Austin’s Priority Deadline applications are evaluated in the same pool as the regular decision applications. The only difference between applicants that apply by the priority deadline and applicants that apply by the regular decision deadline is when students receive their decision. Those that apply before the priority deadline will receive UT Austin’s decision by February 1st.
UT Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts
To complete UT Austin’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must complete three supplemental essays. Their prompts are below and the University of Texas-Austin supplemental essay guide that they were sourced from can be found here.
PROMPT #1
Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (500-700 words)
PROMPT #2
Required Short Answer 1: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (maximum 40 lines, or approximately 250-300 words, typically the length of one paragraph)
PROMPT #3
Required Short Answer 2: Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. (maximum 40 lines, or approximately 250-300 words)
PROMPT #4
Required Short Answer 3: The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, "To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society." Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate. (maximum 40 lines, or approximately 250-300 words)
PROMPT #5
Required Short Answer 4: Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19 (maximum 40 lines, or approximately 250-300 words)
OPTIONAL (BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) EXPANDED RESUME
You may choose to submit an expanded résumé offering additional information about all of your achievements, activities, leadership positions, and student employment.
UT Austin Essay Tips
Quick Tips for Prompt 1
➔ Treat this open-ended question as a main essay that you can reuse for the different application portals such as The Common Application, The Coalition Application, and the ApplyTexas portals (you can read more about the difference between the Common App and the Coalition here).
➔Be sure to demonstrate your own values, skills, qualities, and interests in your essay, as well as emphasize the values you have in common with UT Austin.
➔Take the time to brainstorm potential topics, create an outline for your essay, and then revise your essay draft to make sure it’s showing just how unique and amazing you are. If you’re short on time, you can check out this free one-hour guide. Have more time? Go through the pay-what-you-can step-by-step guide.
Quick Tips for Prompt 2
➔Take time to think about why you’re interested in your major-of-choice. What piqued your interest and what have you done to prepare for your intended major? Just like other ‘Why Major’ essays, this essay is a chance for you to demonstrate how your interests fit with UT Austin’s major.
➔Create an outline that weaves together how your interest in your major was sparked, as well as how you’ll participate in your intended major at UT Austin.
➔ If you’re unsure of your major, just discuss what you’re interested in! You don’t need to know the exact path you’re planning on taking before you apply, just make sure you have a general idea of what you enjoy doing. Research what you find interesting and then connect your interests back to a few potential majors UT Austin offers.
Quick Tips for Prompt 3
➔Values, values, values! As you discuss how your leadership activities have prepared you for UT Austin activities and the impact you’ll make, be sure to incorporate your own values, skills, qualities, and interests.
➔Have a lot of experiences to include? Try using a montage approach to discuss activities that you haven’t already covered in your application. Not sure what a montage is? Take a look at the montage structure here.
➔ Include unusual connections between UT Austin, its community, and you as you paint a picture of what your future will look like. To do this, you’ll want to really research UT Austin opportunities that you’re interested in participating in.
Quick Tips for Prompt 4
➔Brainstorm a few ways you hope to make a positive change in your community—local, regional, state, or even national community.
➔If possible, build off of your response to the previous prompt, which connects your experiences to the impact you’ll make on and off of campus. Show UT Austin the values you’ll gain from the different opportunities offered on campus. Take these experiences and explain how they’ll guide your future actions.
➔Provide specific details, goals, and future milestones throughout your essay that can be associated with your UT Austin experiences. Drawing on your college experiences and demonstrating how you’ll create an impact beyond your college years is important.
Quick Tips for Optional Essay Prompt
➔Directly discuss any gaps in education, drop in GPA or other academically related events. If you think it might be seen as a red flag, then explain it. Being upfront and honest about your situation shows maturity.
➔Try not to over explain things or explain things that don’t really need an explanation. That B+ you might have gotten in AP Physics probably isn’t something that needs to be included. But, if you find yourself with a D- or a long absence from school, then consider using this section to elaborate on what happened to you.
➔Think about including achievements that you haven’t yet had a chance to include in your application. Change in the grading scale? Academic scores that are no longer being reported? If you have space, include those things as well.
UT AUSTIN MAJOR-SPECIFIC SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS
If you’re interested in applying to the UT Schools of Architecture, Art History, Nursing, or Social Work, you’ll have to write an additional essay, too. The requirements for each essay are detailed below:
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS, DEPARTMENT OF ART AND ART HISTORY
In 500 words or less, please tell us about a time when an artwork, artist or art teacher impacted your life. How did this inspire you to pursue an education in the arts?
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Inherent in the design disciplines the capacity to impact the world around us. What does the opportunity to develop such capacity mean to you and your approach to your college education? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing.
How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?
STEVE HICKS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Discuss the reasons you chose Social Work as your first-choice major and how a Social Work degree from UT will prepare you for the future.
Kaila Barber
Kaila Barber (she/her) attended the University of Notre Dame, where she pursued her passion for science, as well as competed as a collegiate hurdler. She completed a minor in Education, Schooling, and Society, a B.S. in PreProfessional Science, and a M.S. in Global Health. Now she serves as a member on CEG’s Quality Control, Essay Review, Workshop, and one-on-one coaching team. Kaila loves gardening, watching anime, and reading mystery novels.
Top Values: Adventure, Growth, Patience
