UT Austin Acceptance Rates (2025): In-State, Out-of-State & Transfer | Collegewise

Curious about your chances of getting into The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)? Whether you’re a Texas resident, an out-of-state student, or considering transferring, the odds can vary tremendously. In this blog, we’ll break down UT Austin acceptance rates, including in-state, out-of-state, and transfer rates, as well as insights on why UT Austin acceptance rates keep falling.

Key Takeaways:

• For the 2024-2025 college application cycle, UT Austin’s acceptance rate is 26.6%, UT Austin’s out-of-state acceptance rate is 10%, and UT Austin’s transfer acceptance rate is 22.5%. 
  
• UT Austin is becoming increasingly popular among high school students. However, this growing demand has added an intensity to the college admissions process in recent years. 
  
• Depending on the student, their chances of acceptance to UT Austin vary drastically. Due to state laws, Texas residents are at a significant advantage over those applying out of state. For this reason, many students have opted to take the transfer route to gain admission to the college.
  
  

UT Austin Acceptance Rate (General)

UT Austin enrolled 19,417 first-year undergraduate students out of the 72,885 applications it received during the 2024-2025 college application cycle, making UT Austin’s acceptance rate 26.6% in 2025.

UT Austin has become a popular college for many students. Due to the surging application volume, the competition has become more intense over the last few years.

UT Austin Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

UT Austin’s out-of-state acceptance rate for 2025 hovers around 10%. Of the 23,015 first-year students who applied, only 2,332 were accepted. 

The majority of UT Austin’s admitted students are Texas residents. The intense out-of-state acceptance rate is a direct result of a variety of Texas laws that prioritize in-state applicants over out-of-state or international ones. 

The first is a unique auto-admit of Texas high school students graduating in the top 5% of their class, which makes up approximately 75% of the incoming freshman class. The second statutory law that impacts out-of-state acceptance rates is the law that requires 90% of first-year students to be Texas residents.  

UT Austin Transfer Acceptance Rate

UT Austin’s transfer acceptance rate for 2024-2025 is 22.5%, admitting 2,267 of the 10,055 students that applied.

Why is UT Austin’s Acceptance Rate Falling?

Increase in Applications Submitted

While reviewing the data, it’s clear that the demand is rising sharply for UT Austin. However, like many other colleges and universities, UT Austin remains limited in the number of available seats for incoming students. As applications increase, UT Austin holds the number of admits steady, adding to the increased intensity.

UT Austin on the Common App

The Common App is a centralized college application platform used by over 1,000 colleges and universities across the country. Until recently, students were only able to apply to UT Austin through a separate application portal called ApplyTexas. Since allowing students to apply to UT Austin through the Common App, the college has seen a surge in applications; largely due to how convenient the process is now.

Automatic Admissions Threshold Tightening

As we discussed, Texas law requires that a large share (~75%) of in-state seats be filled by students who are in the top percentiles of their graduating class. In order to meet state requirements, while also navigating a surge in applications, UT Austin announced that students will need to be in the top 5%, compared to the 6% the previous year. The college has been gradually lowering the percentage threshold (from 7% in 2019 to 5% for 2026) to manage the growing applicant pool. 

Growing Reputation and Ranking

Another contributing factor is UT Austin’s rise in rankings. UT Austin holds the number one ranking among public universities in Texas and remains recognized as one of the top thirty colleges in the United States. The increasing visibility means more students want to attend.

Frequently Asked Questions about UT Austin

Is UT Austin Test-Optional?

No, UT Austin is not test-optional as of the 2025-2026 college application cycle. Students will be required to submit their ACT or SAT scores as part of their college application. 

What is UT Austin Known For?

UT Austin is best known for its Cockrell School of Engineering. UT Austin’s engineering program is recognized globally as one of the best in the world and among the top 10 in the United States. 

Does UT Austin Have Early Action or Early Decision?

No, UT Austin does not have an early decision plan for first-year students applying from high school. 

How Much is UT Austin’s Tuition?

For 2024-2025, UT Austin’s in-state tuition is reported as $11,688. UT Austin’s out-of-state tuition is $44,908. The reported cost of attendance is for a full academic year at UT Austin.

The Bottom Line

UT Austin remains one of the most sought-after public universities in the United States. With skyrocketing application numbers and acceptance rates below 30%, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for students to set themselves apart from other qualified applicants. While Texas residents hold an advantage, out-of-state candidates can still set themselves up for success with a strong college admissions strategy. 

Looking to boost your chances of acceptance at UT Austin? Book a free consultation with Collegewise to work with former UT admissions officers and Texas admissions experts.