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What Is Automatic Admission to Texas Schools?

It’s no secret that college admissions programs are becoming increasingly competitive. However, students who attend high school in Texas may have an advantage when it comes to getting into in-state undergraduate programs, provided that they meet certain academic requirements. Automatic admission is a practice that guarantees college acceptance to students who meet certain requirements regarding grades, class rank, and test scores. Along with allowing larger public universities to sort through huge applicant pools with ease, automatic admission increases overall college diversity by guaranteeing acceptance to students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and academic programs. Keep reading to learn more about automatic admission, along with the specific guidelines for Texas’ top universities.

The History of Automatic Acceptance

Texas House Bill 588, also known as the Top 10% Rule, was created in hopes of leveling the playing field for college admissions. Recognizing that high schools across Texas have historically been divided both racially and economically, politicians passed this 1997 law to increase diversity among college classes. Signed into law by then-Governor George W. Bush, the bill enabled lawmakers to circumvent Hopwood v. Texas, which banned the use of affirmative action only a year prior, in order to admit students who had historically been underrepresented. The Top 10% Rule requires public universities in Texas to admit all Lone Star students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school classes. (Note that UT Austin is an exception to the rule, with admissions requirements changing annually to prevent the school from being overwhelmed by automatic applicants.) 

 

It’s worth noting that Texas House Bill 588 only guarantees admission for students in the top 10% of their graduating classes. Admittees must still find ways of financing their degrees, and qualify for acceptance into their chosen major program. 

The Automatic Admission Requirements for Texas Public Universities

Below are the specific requirements for guaranteed admission to Texas public universities. The list is ordered from the most to least competitive institutions:

 

UT Austin

Must be in top 6% of graduating class.

 

UT Dallas

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

University of Houston

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

Texas A&M International University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

UT Rio Grande Valley

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

UT Tyler

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

Prairie View A&M University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

Texas A&M Texarkana

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

UT Pan American

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

Texas A&M

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 25%: SAT 1360; ACT 30

 

Texas Tech

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 25%: SAT 1180; ACT 24

 

Texas State University

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 25%: SAT 1000; ACT 20

 

University of North Texas

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 25%: SAT 1030; ACT 20

 

Texas A&M Galveston

Students in the top 10% receive assured admissions if they successfully meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy and complete the recommended or distinguished graduation plan or the foundation distinguished plan.

 

UT Arlington

-Top 25%: No score requirements.

-Top 50%: SAT 1050; ACT 22

 

Sam Houston State University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class; students who meet the following composite scores by GPA range will be automatically accepted:

 

GPA Range ACT  SAT Scores
3.5 – 4.0 17 930
3.0 – 3.49 19 1010
2.5 – 2.99 22 1110
2.25 – 2.49 25 1210

Tarleton State University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

University of Houston – Clear Lake

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

 

Stephen F. Austin State University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.

West Texas A&M University

Must be in top 10% of graduating class.. Students will also receive automatic acceptance with an SAT of 1010.

 

UT San Antonio

-Top 25%: No score requirements.

-Top 50%: SAT 1170; ACT 24

 

Texas A&M Commerce

Students in the top 30% receive assured admission with an SAT score of 1060 or an ACT of 21.

 

Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Students in the top 25% receive assured admission without score requirements, provided that they completed the required pre-college curriculum. 

 

Texas Woman’s University

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

 

UT El Paso

-Top 25%: No score requirements.

-Top 50%: SAT 920; ACT 19

 

University of Houston – Victoria

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 11% to 25%: SAT 1080; ACT 21

 

Lamar University

-Top 25%: No score requirements.

-Top 50% to 25%: SAT 1040; ACT 20

 

Texas A&M Kingsville

-Top 10%: No score requirements.

-Top 11% to 25%: SAT 830; ACT 15

 

Sul Ross State University

Students in the top 50% receive assured admission with an SAT score of 1040 or an ACT of 20.

 

Texas Southern University

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

 

Angelo State University

-Top 25%: No score requirements.

-Top 50%: SAT 920; ACT 17

 

Midwestern State University

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

 

Texas A&M San Antonio

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

 

UT Permian Basin

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

 

University of Houston – Downtown

Must be in top 25% of graduating class.

What About Automatic Admission for Transfer Students?

The Texas Automatic Admission policy also applies to transfer students, provided that they meet their prospective institution’s specific requirements for entry. For example, at UT Austin, students receive automatic transfer admission if they meet all the following qualifications:

 

  • Graduate from high school in 2008 or later
  • Enroll at a Texas community or junior college after high school
  • Complete the core curriculum at a Texas public junior college or other public or private lower-division institution of higher education
  • Achieve a GPA of 2.5

 

On the other hand, gaining assured admission to UT Dallas requires students to meet the following requirements:

 

  • Accumulate a minimum of 42 but maximum of 89 credit hours.
  • Hold a GPA of 3.0
  • Maintain good standing at their last college or university

 

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!


Short Bio
A graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC, April Maguire taught freshman composition while earning her degree. Over the years, she has worked as a writer, editor, tutor, and content manager. Currently, she operates a freelance writing business and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three rowdy cats.