How to get into University of Texas at Austin

How to get into UT Austin: the top 6% rule and what to do if you miss it

31.8%

Acceptance rate

$11,448

In-state cost

$41,070

Out-of-state cost

What makes University of Texas at Austin admissions different

UT Austin admits 75% of its in-state class from the top 6% of Texas high school classes automatically. If you're a Texas resident in that band, you have a guaranteed seat (in 'a major', not necessarily your first-choice major). Everyone else competes for the remaining 25% holistically — and that gets very competitive, especially for engineering, business, and CS.

What an actually competitive application looks like

  1. 1.

    If you're a Texas resident: confirm your rank by junior year. Top 6% = auto-admit. Then strategize for your major (engineering, business, CS, architecture, etc. have separate program admissions).

  2. 2.

    If you're a Texas resident outside top 6%: build a strong holistic application. Test scores, essays, recs, and major-specific work all matter.

  3. 3.

    If you're not a Texas resident: out-of-state admissions are far more competitive. ACT 33+/SAT 1450+, top-decile rank, and strong essays are typical.

  4. 4.

    For competitive majors (McCombs Business, Cockrell Engineering, CS): apply directly to the major. Internal transfers later are very competitive.

  5. 5.

    ApplyTexas or Common App — UT accepts both. Strong essays on the topic prompts are weighted heavily for non-auto-admit applicants.

Common mistakes that hurt applicants here

  • ✕

    Assuming top-6% auto-admit gets you any major. It gets you 'into UT' — not into McCombs or Cockrell. Plan accordingly.

  • ✕

    Treating UT as a safety because of the auto-admit rule, then writing weak essays. Holistic-pool applicants need polished essays.

  • ✕

    Missing the Texas Application deadline (usually Dec 1, ahead of many other schools).

If you're on the bubble

If you're an out-of-state applicant: UT Austin is roughly as competitive as a top-30 private. Plan accordingly. If you're a Texas resident outside top 6%: strong essays + ECs + competitive test scores can absolutely get you in, but it's not automatic — apply broadly within Texas too.

Next steps

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Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.