UT Austin Acceptance Rates (2026): In-State, Out-of-State & Transfer

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:

• UT Austin has yet to release a complete dataset for the 2025-2026 application cycle, but has reported a record-high 90,690 first-year applications received and the highest enrollment in UT Austin history. 
• 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%. 
  
• 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's acceptance rates (2020-2026)

UT Austin reports record-high admissions numbers for the most recent 2025-2026 admissions cycle. The university received a whopping total of 90,690 first-year college applications, an increase of 22% from the previous year. 

Similarly, UT Austin enrolled the largest number of first-year students in history, a grand total of 9,900. UT Austin has yet to report on its official 2025-2026 acceptance rate despite boasting about their new record of enrolled students.

UT Austin's out-of-state acceptance rate

UT Austin’s out-of-state acceptance rate for 2025 hovers around 10%. As of 2025, UT Austin's first-year class is made up of only 10.2% out-of-state students. 

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. 

Is it harder to get into UT Austin as an out-of-state student?

UT Austin's policy is to auto-admit students graduating in the top 5% of their class. Historically, that percentage was much higher, but as applications rose, so did the competition. This has led to UT Austin needing to tighten its college admissions process to ensure it's meeting these policies.

The University of Texas system is also required, by law, to ensure that 90% of its incoming class is Texas residents. This makes the college review process more favorable to Texas residents as opposed to international or out-of-state applicants. 

UT Austin also announced that its Texas Advance Commitment (TAC) would meet full need to Texas students for up to $100,000 adjusted gross income. As of 2025, more than 12,000 undergraduate students attend UT Austin tuition-free. 

Each of these components creates a more competitive admissions process at UT Austin.

• The threshold to be auto-admitted is tighter than it was in previous years, requiring students to excel academically to simply meet the auto-admit requirement.

• UT Austin's TAC initiative is an attractive perk for many families, especially with the rising costs of tuition. This, in turn, encourages more applications each year. 

• The prioritization of Texas residents not only creates more competition for in-state applicants, but it also means there are fewer seats available for out-of-state and international applicants. 

What is UT Austin's 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

Is UT Austin test-optional?

No, UT Austin is no longer a test-optional college as of the 2025-2026 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?

UT Austin does have an Early Action option for students, but it does not have Early Decision. Students interested in applying Early Action to UT Austin must apply by October 15, with decisions released by January 15. 

How much is UT Austin’s tuition?

As of 2026, the total cost of tuition at UT Austin is between $24,998 and $35,386 for in-state students and between $64,204 and $72,916 for non-residents. 

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.