Acceptance rate · Public · Austin, Texas
University of Texas at Austin acceptance rate: 27%
University of Texas at Austin admits about 27% overall for fall 2024 — but that single number hides the biggest split in this list (see below) — and Texas residents — especially auto-admit-tier students — are admitted at a much higher rate than the overall number suggests. Here are the numbers that actually shape a decision there, in plain language, with the caveats most rate pages skip.
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UT Austin at a glance
| Overall acceptance rate | about 27% overall for fall 2024 — but that single number hides the biggest split in this list (see below) |
|---|---|
| SAT middle 50% | 1230–1480 |
| ACT middle 50% | 27–33 |
| Typical admitted GPA band | 3.7–4.0 (many admits near the top of a weighted scale) |
| Application deadlines | Early Action: October 20 · Regular Decision: December 1 |
| Tuition | Texas residents: roughly $11,000–$12,000/year tuition · Non-residents: roughly $42,000/year |
Approximate, most-recent publicly reported figures (fall 2024 entering class unless the school reports newer). The authority for current numbers is always UT Austin's own Common Data Set and admissions site.
How to read UT Austin's number
University of Texas at Austin is Texas law guarantees admission to residents graduating at the very top of their high-school class (the auto-admit cutoff, recently around the top 5–6%), which is why in-state and out-of-state odds look nothing alike. An overall acceptance rate averages wildly different applicant pools — for UT Austin, Texas residents — especially auto-admit-tier students — are admitted at a much higher rate than the overall number suggests, so the honest way to use the number is as a starting anchor, then adjust for the parts that describe you: residency, GPA band, and where your test scores (if you send them) sit inside the middle 50%.
- Inside the middle 50%: your academic file reads as typical-for-ut austin — the decision then turns on rigor, essays, and context.
- Above the top of the band: academics help you, but at a rate of about 27% overall for fall 2024 — but that single number hides the biggest split in this list (see below) they rarely decide it alone — and residency can matter more than any score.
- Below the bottom of the band: admission happens every year, but you need a clear explanation (upward trend, school context, exceptional work) the reader can see quickly.
Three things that genuinely move your odds
- Rigor over polish. The single most-cited factor in UT Austin's reviews is the strength of your senior-year coursework relative to what your school offers. A slightly lower GPA in the hardest schedule usually beats the reverse.
- One specific story. Essays that could only have been written by you outperform impressive-but-generic ones. Tie what you did to what UT Austin is known for.
- Deadline strategy. Early Action: October 20 · Regular Decision: December 1. Pick the round that lets you submit your strongest file — not the earliest one by reflex.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate for University of Texas at Austin?
The most recently reported overall acceptance rate for University of Texas at Austin is about 27% overall for fall 2024 — but that single number hides the biggest split in this list (see below). Texas residents — especially auto-admit-tier students — are admitted at a much higher rate than the overall number suggests. Rates move a little every year — confirm the current figure on UT Austin's official Common Data Set before relying on it.
What GPA do you need for UT Austin?
Admitted students at University of Texas at Austin most often land in roughly the 3.7–4.0 (many admits near the top of a weighted scale) unweighted range. That's a middle band, not a floor — a GPA below it is offset by exceptional coursework rigor, essays, or context, and a GPA above it guarantees nothing by itself.
What SAT or ACT score is good enough for UT Austin?
The middle 50% of enrolled students at University of Texas at Austin scores roughly SAT 1230–1480 / ACT 27–33. Landing inside that band makes your academic file competitive; landing above it helps most at the margins.
How can I improve my chances at UT Austin?
Three levers matter most: (1) coursework rigor — admissions readers weigh the hardest schedule you can sustain; (2) a specific, demonstrated interest that matches what UT Austin is known for — Texas law guarantees admission to residents graduating at the very top of their high-school class (the auto-admit cutoff, recently around the top 5–6%), which is why in-state and out-of-state odds look nothing alike; (3) apply at the deadline that fits: Early Action: October 20 · Regular Decision: December 1. Then run your own numbers in our acceptance odds calculator.