University of Texas at Austin: Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 32%. UT Austin is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. Considering applying to this selective school? Here are the UT Austin admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why the University of Texas?

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Campus Features: The Main Building's tower stands 307 feet above UT Austin's attractive 423-acre main campus. The university also has a large research campus in North Austin.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 18:1
• Athletics: The Texas Longhorns compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference.
• Highlights: With over 50,000 students, UT Austin is one of the largest universities in the country. The school is an excellent value for in-state students, and McCombs is one of the best business schools for undergraduates. For its many strengths, UT Austin earned a place among the top Texas colleges, top South Central colleges, and top national public universities.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UT Austin had an acceptance rate of 32%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 32 students were admitted, making UT Austin's admissions process competitive.

The admissions data in graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Texas at Austin. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Texas at Austin has a competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average GPAs and SAT/ACT scores. However, UT Austin has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Be sure to improve your application by submitting an optional activities resumé and optional letters of recommendation. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside UT Austin's average range.

As the graph above shows, the higher your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, the better your chances of getting in. That said, realize that hidden beneath the blue and green on the graph is a lot of red—some students with excellent transcripts and strong standardized test results still get rejected from the University of Texas.

The rejection of a seemingly qualified student can be the result of many factors: lack of depth or accomplishment in extracurricular activities; failure to demonstrate leadership ability; a lack of challenging AP, IB or Honors courses; a sloppy admissions essay; and more. Also, out-of-state applicants will face a higher admissions bar than Texas students. The opposite is also true—a number of students were accepted with test scores and grades a bit below the norm.