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Ranked List of the Best UT Schools
What’s Covered:
- CollegeVine’s Ranking Methodology
- Ranked List of the Best UT Schools
- How to Apply to the UT Schools
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Established more than 140 years ago, the University of Texas System is a key driver of economic and social mobility within the state, producing more than 66,000 degrees every year. The System includes 13 institutions of higher learning and medicine, including the eight comprehensive universities we have ranked here.
Widely known for innovation, the UT System is one of the largest public university systems of higher education in the United States, and hundreds of thousands of students enroll annually.
CollegeVine’s Ranking Methodology
In constructing our rankings of the institutions in the UT System, we focused on the eight main schools that offer undergraduate programs—the System also includes four independent health institutions. A recent undergraduate addition, Stephen F. Austin State University, operated independently until 2023, when it was added to the UT System. Because it is still a fairly new addition to the UT System, SFASU will not be included on this edition of the list.
Rankings take into account school quality, student outcomes, and ROI, along with retention rate, selectivity, student-faculty ratio, and more. See more of our colleges and university rankings here.
Ranked List of the Best UT Schools
1. University of Texas at Austin | UT Austin
Location: Austin
Acceptance Rate: 18%
Middle 50% SAT: 1230-1480
Middle 50% ACT: 27-34
Undergraduate Enrollment: 44,300
The flagship university of Texas, UT Austin is the oldest and largest institution in the System. It is known as a “Public Ivy” thanks to its stellar academic reputation and selectivity. The university counts numerous Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Emmy winners, and Olympians among its alumni, faculty, and researchers.
Learn more about UT Austin and your chances of acceptance.
2. University of Texas at Dallas | UT Dallas
Location: Dallas
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Middle 50% SAT: 1170-1390
Middle 50% ACT: 24-32
Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,820
A top-value public university, UT Dallas was originally founded in 1961 as the private research arm of Texas Instruments. The institution grew and evolved quickly, becoming a notable research university in areas like science, engineering, business, research, the arts, government, and the global community. Today, it offers more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs, across seven schools.
Learn more about UT Dallas and your chances of acceptance.
3. University of Texas at Arlington | UT Arlington
Location: Arlington
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Middle 50% SAT: 1000-1250
Middle 50% ACT: 21-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 30,700
Originally part of the Texas A&M University System, UT Arlington joined the UT System in 1965. Today, it is the third-largest producer of college graduates in Texas. The university is the second largest in the UT System, offering more than 180 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. UTA also has robust online programs.
Learn more about UT Arlington and your chances of acceptance.
4. University of Texas at San Antonio | UTSA
Location: San Antonio
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Middle 50% SAT: 1020-1210
Middle 50% ACT: 19-25
Undergrad Enrollment: 30,900
Despite its relative youth, UTSA has become widely recognized as one of the most diverse institutions in the UT System. It is one of the original 189 universities in the nation designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions, while simultaneously holding a Tier One classification for research excellence. Meanwhile, 44% of undergraduate students are first-generation college students, and UTSA is recognized as one of the best schools for social mobility.
Learn more about UTSA and your chances of acceptance.
5. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Location: Edinburg
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Middle 50% SAT: 910-1110
Middle 50% ACT: 16-22
Undergrad Enrollment: 28,670
The result of a merger between UT–Pan American and UT Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, UTRGV opened in 2015, making it the youngest of the UT campuses. In just a few years, however, the university has had a number of achievements.
In 2020, it was ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report for least student debt. It also has the lowest net price of attendance in Texas, according to Washington Monthly, and ranks No. 2 in this respect among all national public universities.
Learn more about UT Rio Grande and your chances of acceptance.
6. University of Texas at El Paso | UTEP
Location: El Paso
Acceptance Rate: 99.9%
Middle 50% SAT: 900-1100
Middle 50% ACT: 17-23
Undergrad Enrollment: 21,120
UTEP is one of the largest Hispanic-serving institutions in the U.S., with a student body that is 84% Hispanic. Approximately half of all students are the first in their families to attend college.
Across eight colleges and schools, the university offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. According to one study in 2017, UTEP was ranked no. 1 in the U.S. for its success in achieving both competitive research and student social mobility.
Learn more about UTEP and your chances of acceptance.
7. University of Texas at Tyler
Location: Tyler
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Middle 50% SAT: 1010-1190
Middle 50% ACT: 21-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,670
UT Tyler is home to five academic colleges and three schools, with more than 90 academic degree programs in all. The school is diverse, with students representing 167 Texas counties, 45 states, and 60+ nations. Also notable is the university’s picturesque campus—260+ acres alongside a lake and surrounded by pine and oak forests.
Learn more about UT Tyler and your chances of acceptance.
8. University of Texas Permian Basin
Location: Odessa
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Middle 50% SAT: 910-1100
Middle 50% ACT: 17-23
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,740
UT Permian Basin offers an affordable education across its five colleges—College of Arts & Humanities, College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering & Sciences, and College of Health Sciences. The university has several claims to fame. For example, it was ranked No. 1 by U.S. News for Highest-Paid Petroleum Engineering graduates (2020) and within the top 40 Best Bank-for-Your-Buck Colleges in the Nation by Washington Monthly.
Learn more about UTPB and your chances of acceptance.
How to Apply to the UT Schools
Freshman applicants have the option of submitting either the ApplyTexas application or the Common App. You can use a single ApplyTexas application for all UT System institutions. Whichever option you choose, you will need to submit at least one essay and complete the short answers.
UT applicants should rank at least two majors as first or second choices. You may need to submit additional materials, depending on their programs of choice.
Some UT campuses are currently test-optional, meaning applicants are not required to submit scores to be considered for admission. If relevant, indicate whether you would like your scores to be considered on your application. For campuses that require test scores, including the flagship UT Austin, you will need to submit scores directly from the testing agency. You will also have the option of submitting an expanded résumé and up to two letters of recommendation.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Because your personal chances of acceptance at the UT schools may differ from their published average acceptance rates, we’ve made it easy to figure out which schools fall into which categories with our free chancing engine. By taking into account your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance at different schools and give you tips on improving your profile!
