You're looking at Austin. Not the sprawling, burnt-orange empire of UT Austin that everyone knows, but the new kid on the block: The University of Austin (UATX). If you're an out-of-state student, things get a little weird here. Most people confuse the two schools, and that’s a massive mistake. While UT Austin is a public giant bound by strict Texas residency laws, UATX is a private, non-profit startup school with a totally different playbook.
Honestly, the university of austin acceptance rate out-of-state is one of the most misunderstood numbers in higher education right now. Because the school is so new—having only welcomed its inaugural class in the fall of 2024—the "rate" isn't a fixed, historical percentage like you'd find at Harvard or even Texas A&M. It's an evolving target.
The UATX Difference: Why Your Zip Code Doesn't Matter (Much)
If you've been stressing about the "Top 6% Rule" or the fact that Texas public schools have to reserve 90% of their spots for locals, take a breath. UATX doesn't care about those state mandates.
As a private institution, they aren't forced to prioritize Texans. They want a specific vibe and a specific kind of brain. They call it "intellectual pluralism." Basically, they’re looking for students who aren't afraid of a good argument and don't want to be told what to think.
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For the first few cohorts, the school has been tiny. We're talking about a student body that fits into a large lecture hall at most other universities. In 2025, the total enrollment across two classes was only about 150 students. When you have thousands of inquiries and only a handful of spots, the math gets brutal fast.
Breaking Down the Numbers
- Inaugural Class Size: Roughly 100 students.
- 2025 Total Enrollment: Approximately 150 students.
- Faculty-to-Student Ratio: Incredibly tight, with 34 academic staff members for 150 kids.
- The "Merit-First" Shortcut: As of March 2025, they introduced a policy where if you have a 1460 SAT or a 33 ACT, you get a much smoother path to admission, provided you pass their integrity checks.
University of Austin Acceptance Rate Out-of-State vs. The "Other" Austin School
Don't let the name confuse you. If you were searching for the university of austin acceptance rate out-of-state and you actually meant the University of Texas at Austin, the news is a lot grimmer.
At UT Austin, the out-of-state acceptance rate is famously low—often hovering between 8% and 12%. Why? Because by law, 75% of their freshmen come from the top 6% of Texas high schools. This leaves a tiny sliver of the pie for everyone else.
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UATX is different. They are actively recruiting nationally. They want to be a national brand, not just a local one. If you’re applying from California, New York, or Florida, you aren’t fighting for a "leftover" spot. You’re the target audience.
What Actually Gets You In?
Kinda surprisingly, UATX puts a massive emphasis on "Capacity for Creativity and Leadership." It sounds like corporate speak, but they actually mean it. They look at your writing. Not just the "tell us about a challenge" essay, but how you think.
They use something called the "Forbidden Courses" as a philosophical North Star. They want builders. If you started a business in your garage or spent your summers restoring old tractors, you’re probably more interesting to them than someone who just has a 4.0 GPA and no hobbies.
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The Financial Hook
Here is the part that makes the acceptance rate even more competitive: The scholarships. The entire inaugural class received four-year full scholarships. In 2025, a massive donation from Jeff Yass led the university to announce that tuition would be permanently free for students. When you make a school free, the number of applicants rockets into the stratosphere.
Is it a "Reach" School?
Absolutely. But it’s a reach for different reasons than an Ivy League school.
- Uncertainty: It's still a candidate for accreditation (aiming for full status by 2028).
- Small Batches: They aren't trying to be a 50,000-student campus. They want a small, elite cohort of "truth-seekers."
- No Safety Net: There's no "safety" version of UATX. You're either the right fit for their specific culture or you aren't.
Practical Steps for Out-of-State Applicants
If you're serious about snagging one of those rare spots, stop thinking about your resume as a list of achievements and start thinking of it as a portfolio of curiosity.
- Nail the Standardized Tests: Since they have an automatic merit-first threshold (1460 SAT/33 ACT), getting those scores is the easiest way to cut through the noise.
- Embrace the Controversy: Read their mission statement. If the idea of "forbidden courses" makes you nervous, don't apply. If it excites you, lean into that in your essays.
- Visit if You Can: Austin is a vibe, and UATX is currently centered in the Scarbrough Building. Seeing it in person helps you understand that this isn't a traditional quad-and-cloisters experience.
- Watch the Deadlines: Because they are small, their windows for applications can be narrow and move quickly depending on funding and class size goals.
The university of austin acceptance rate out-of-state might not be a single number you can find on a government spreadsheet yet, but it’s undoubtedly low—likely in the single digits given the "free tuition" draw and the tiny class sizes. Your best bet is to prove you're more than just a set of grades. Show them you can build something.