So, you're looking at the Longhorns. You and about 90,000 other people. Honestly, the ut austin admissions statistics for this year are enough to give any high school junior a minor heart attack. If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or hovering over College Confidential, you’ve probably heard the horror stories about kids with perfect SATs getting rejected while their neighbor gets in.
It’s messy. It’s competitive. And it’s changing faster than the skyline in downtown Austin.
Basically, the University of Texas at Austin isn't just a "state school" anymore; it’s become a global destination that happens to be in Texas. For the Fall 2025 cycle, the university saw a massive 90,690 freshman applications. That is a staggering 24% jump from the year before. To put that in perspective, just three years ago, that number was sitting around 60,000.
The math doesn't lie: more people want in, but the campus isn't getting any bigger.
The Auto-Admit Trap and the New 5% Rule
If you live in Texas, you know the "Top 6%" rule like the back of your hand. Or, well, you did.
One of the biggest shifts in the latest ut austin admissions statistics is the move to the Top 5% for the Fall 2026 entering class. President Jay Hartzell basically said the demand is so high they had to tighten the belt.
💡 You might also like: Getting the Recipe Fried Chicken KFC Flavor Right at Home Without Losing Your Mind
By law, UT has to fill 75% of its Texas-resident spots through automatic admission. Because the applicant pool is exploding, the only way to keep that 75% from eating the entire university is to make the window smaller.
Here’s where it gets tricky for the auto-admits: Automatic admission to the university does NOT mean automatic admission to your major. I've seen kids in the top 2% of their class get "admitted" to UT, only to find out they were rejected from Computer Science and offered "Undeclared" in Liberal Arts. If you want the high-demand stuff—Cockrell School of Engineering, McCombs School of Business, or Turing Scholars—being in the Top 5% is just the entry fee. It doesn't get you a seat at the table.
Let’s Talk About the "Holistic" Hunger Games
If you aren't in that top tier of your class, or if you're coming from out-of-state, you’re playing a different game entirely. This is what they call "Holistic Review."
For the out-of-state acceptance rate, the numbers are brutal. While the overall acceptance rate hovers around 26.6%, the rate for non-Texans is often estimated to be as low as 11.7% or even 5% for certain colleges.
Why? Because 90% of the freshman class must be from Texas. That leaves a tiny, tiny sliver of seats for the rest of the world.
🔗 Read more: Sex Games At Party Scenarios: What Actually Works and Why Consent is the Real MVP
What Actually Matters in Holistic Review?
- The Return of the SAT/ACT: For the 2025-2026 cycle, the "test-optional" era is officially over. You must submit a score. The middle 50% for admitted students usually lands between 1230 and 1500 on the SAT, or 27 to 33 on the ACT. If you're aiming for Business or STEM, you really want to be on the high end of that (think 1450+).
- Major Fit: UT is obsessed with "fit to major." Your essays shouldn't just say "I'm a hard worker." They need to prove why you belong in that specific department.
- Expanded Resume: They don't just want a list of clubs. They want to see "expanded" details—how many hours, what was your specific impact, did you actually lead?
The Major-Specific Meat Grinder
It’s sorta unfair to look at one "acceptance rate" for the whole school. Applying to the Moody College of Communication is a very different experience than applying to McCombs.
McCombs School of Business
McCombs is arguably the toughest nut to crack. For Fall 2025, they received over 16,500 applications for a BBA program that only takes about 1,000 students. That’s an acceptance rate of roughly 6%.
Computer Science (CNS)
Computer Science is similarly cutthroat. With the rise of AI and Austin's "Silicon Hills" reputation, the demand is off the charts. If you aren't bringing a near-perfect math score and some serious coding projects to the table, it’s a tough climb.
Plan II and Honors
Then there’s the "Ivy League of the South" crowd. Plan II Honors gets about 2,500 applications for 175 spots. They look for "intellectual spirit." If your essay sounds like a robot wrote it, you're out. They want to see personality, weird hobbies, and a genuine love for reading.
Residency Realities: The 90/10 Rule
You've probably heard that UT Austin is "80% Texan." That’s actually a bit low.
According to the Fall 2025 data, 80.5% of all students are Texas residents, but the state mandate for the freshman class is even stricter, requiring 90% to be in-staters.
This creates a weird dynamic. If you’re a brilliant student from California or New Jersey, you might be more qualified on paper than some in-state admits, but the law simply doesn't have room for you. It’s a numbers game you can’t win with just grades. You have to bring a "hook"—something the university can't find in Texas.
The Cost of the "Longhorn Dream"
Let's get real about the money for a second. Even as a public school, it ain't cheap, but it's a steal for residents.
🔗 Read more: Why Do It Yourself Plant Hangers Save Your Sanity (and Your Budget)
| Group | Average Net Tuition (2025) |
|---|---|
| Texas Residents | $3,852 |
| Out-of-State | Much higher (sticker price ~$40k+) |
| Low-Income (Under $100k) | Often $0 (covered by UT for Me/Dell) |
The university recently expanded free tuition for families making under $100,000. That’s a huge deal. It means the ut austin admissions statistics are being influenced by a more diverse pool of applicants who previously thought they couldn't afford the Forty Acres.
How to Actually Get In (Actionable Steps)
If you're reading this, you're probably stressed. Don't be. Here is the move:
- Check your rank today. If you're a junior in Texas and you aren't in the Top 5%, you need to pivot your strategy to a heavy "holistic" focus immediately.
- Submit for Early Action. The October 15 deadline is your friend. While it's not "Early Decision" (it's non-binding), getting your name in the hat early matters for housing and honors.
- Kill the SAT/ACT. Since it's required again, don't sleep on it. You need a score that "confirms" your GPA. If you have a 4.0 but a 1100 SAT, admissions officers might question your school's rigor.
- Write for your major. Don't write a generic "I love learning" essay. If you're applying for Engineering, talk about the time you built a custom PC or fixed the neighbor's lawnmower. Be specific.
- Use the "Expanded Resume." UT gives you more space than the Common App. Use it. Detail your internships, your part-time job at H-E-B, and your volunteer hours. Everything counts.
The 2026 cycle is going to be the most competitive in the history of the university. But remember, statistics are just averages. You aren't an average; you're an applicant. Hook 'em.
Next Steps for Your Application:
- Verify your high school rank with your counselor to see if you hit the 5% threshold for 2026.
- Register for the SAT or ACT by the end of your junior year to ensure you have scores ready for the October 15 Early Action deadline.
- Draft your "Major Fit" essay by identifying three specific resources or professors at UT Austin that align with your career goals.