What Is UT Austin Known For?

What’s Covered:

• Overview of UT Austin Admissions
• Unique Aspects of UT Austin
• What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at UT Austin?

Are you searching for a large public university in an entrepreneurial-minded city that offers dozens of on-campus and off-campus resources for students? If so, the University of Texas at Austin may be the perfect fit for you.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) was ranked as the seventh-best public college in the United States by Business First in 2020. In this post, we’ll outline everything you need to know about being a student at this award-winning school, from student life to campus traditions, to the crucial details of the admissions process, including financial aid.

Overview of UT Austin Admissions

Location: Austin, Texas

Undergrad Enrollment: 40,800

Acceptance Rate: 31%

Middle 50% SAT: 1230-1480

Middle 50% ACT: 26-34

UT Austin is one of the largest public universities in the country, located in the heart of Austin, Texas. The university has an acceptance rate of 31%—out of 57,241 students who applied, only 18,291 were accepted for the 2020-2021 school year.

It’s important to note that UT Austin does not accept The Common Application. Students applying to the university must complete either the ApplyTexas application or the Coalition for College Application.

UT Austin does not have an early decision or early action plan. However, the university does have a priority deadline available for U.S. applicants only on November 1. The regular deadline is December 1, and all additional application items must be received by the school no later than December 8.

UT Austin is a test-optional school, meaning you are not required to submit standardized test scores, but your scores will be used during the admissions process if you do.

High school students need the following items to apply for freshmen admission:

• A completed ApplyTexas or Coalition for College Application (including short answers)
• The $75 application fee ($90 for international applicants)
• A completed essay
• High school transcript and class rank
• College transcripts (including dual credit classes)
• SAT or ACT scores (optional)
• Resume (optional)
• Letter(s) of recommendation (optional)

Learn more about UT Austin and see your chances of acceptance.

Unique Aspects of UT Austin

Academics

UT Austin offers undergraduate students more than 170 majors at various colleges. The colleges at UT Austin include:

• The School of Architecture
• The McCombs School of Business
• The Moody College of Communication
• The College of Education
• The Cockrell School of Engineering
• The College of Fine Arts
• The Jackson School of Geosciences
• The School of Information
• The College of Liberal Arts
• The College of Natural Sciences
• The School of Nursing
• The College of Pharmacy
• Steve Hicks School of Social Work

UT Austin offers a few specialized programs, including dual degree plans and integrated undergraduate/graduate programs. These majors include the Integrated Masters in Professional Accounting, Architecture/Plan II, and Architecture/Architectural Engineering.

Engineering, Social Sciences, and Business majors are the most popular at UT Austin. Undergraduate students who wish to further their education at UT Austin can enroll in a master’s program in the highly-ranked McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering, or School of Nursing.

Notable faculty include Matthew McConaughey, academy-award-winning actor and producer of nearly 50 films, and Nancy A. Moran, recipient of the International Prize for Biology in 2010.

UT Austin also has a notable study abroad program. Nearly 4,500 undergraduate students study abroad each year, and the university’s study abroad program is ranked #3 for education abroad participation in the United States, according to the 2020 Open Doors Report. UT Austin offers over 400 study abroad programs in over 100 different countries, including Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Extracurriculars

At UT Austin, undergraduate students can become involved in one (or many!) of the 1,300 student-run clubs and organizations on-campus.

Some notable organizations include the university’s three different student-run legislative groups, over 70 sororities and fraternities, and the largest student-run newspaper in the country. There are also hundreds of club sports, intramural teams, and outdoor adventure groups for students.

UT Austin also has a notable sports program. Their 18 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I varsity teams compete in the Big 12 Conference. Their teams are called the “Texas Longhorns.”

Over the years, the Longhorns have won 47 NCAA national championships. Their football team has won nearly 20 major bowl games and produced two Heisman Trophy winners, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. The Longhorns’ most prominent rivals are currently the Oklahoma Sooners and Baylor Bears.

Traditions

With nearly 150 years of history, UT Austin has rich traditions undergraduate students will come to know and love during their time at the university. Here are a few of the most notable:

• Hook’em Horns—This iconic hand symbol was created in 1955 to show support for the Longhorns at sports games and spread school spirit.

• The Eyes of Texas—UT’s school song, written and performed by students in 1903, is now sung at the end of sporting events and during important university ceremonies.

• Gone to Texas—This exciting celebration for freshmen students takes place each year on the night before their first day of classes.

• Lighting the Tower—The tower at the center of campus can be lit in orange and gold to celebrate, mourn, or signal school pride to the community. UT can also project numbers on the tower, like the #1 when the university wins a sports championship or the last two digits of a graduating class.

Dorms

UT Austin’s dorms and residence halls are sorted into three categories by location: North Campus Living, South Campus Living, and West Campus Living.

North Campus Living: Andrews Hall, Blanton Hall, Carothers Hall, Creekside Hall, Duren Hall, Kinsolving Hall, Littlefield Hall, and Whitis Court

South Campus Living: Brackenridge Hall, Jester East, Jester West, Moore-Hill Hall, Prather Hall, Roberts Hall, and San Jacinto Hall

West Campus Living: 2400 Nueces

Freshmen are not required to live on-campus, but the university does encourage first-year students to take advantage of the convenience of living in university-owned housing. Roughly 20% of undergraduate students live on-campus in university-owned housing, and 80% of students live off-campus.

UT Austin also offers Learning Living Communities (LLCs) to introduce and integrate students to academic and social learning. 

Financial Aid

UT Austin offers both need-based and merit-based scholarships.

To apply for need-based aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). The FAFSA should be completed by all U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, and the TASFA should be completed by non-residents classified as Texas residents.

Students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships after completing the ApplyTexas or Coalition for College Application. Your application must be completed by December 1 to be considered for scholarships.

Students can also contact their college, school, or department at UT Austin for college-specific scholarships for incoming students. Many of these scholarships have additional admissions requirements.

Resources

UT Austin’s 431-acre campus offers multiple on-campus resources, like museums and recreational centers for students, including:

• Blanton Museum of Art—The home of the primary art collection in Central Texas, with over 19,000 pieces showcased in the museum.

• Dolph Briscoe Center for American History—A leading research center for historical research and study with materials documenting the history of Texas and the South.

• Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex—A large aquatic center for students to participate in lap swimming, leisure swimming, water basketball, water volleyball, and more.
• Harry Ransom Center—An internationally-renowned research center with nearly one million books, 42 million manuscripts, five million photographs, and 100,000 works of art to study the creative process of esteemed writers and artists.

• LBJ Presidential Library—Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidential library and museum documenting his political career and important events in American history during his presidency.

• Student Activity Center—A state-of-the-art, award-winning gathering space for students.

• Texas Memorial Museum—A natural science museum featuring fossils, gems, minerals, and wildlife native to Texas.

Location

UT Austin is located within two miles of Downtown Austin. Austin is known for its world-famous live music scene—the city has over 200 live music venues and usually has dozens of performances occurring each day. There are also dozens of museums, galleries, and theatres throughout the city.

Students have plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and can kayak, swim, hike, bike, and run in the Downtown Austin area.

Austin was recently named one of the top startup cities in the country for entrepreneurs and is a hub for major technology companies like Dell, Apple, and Samsung. Austin is also located less than 200 miles from Dallas, the second most popular location in the Fortune 500, with nearly one trillion dollars in cumulative revenue in 2019.

Whether students stay in Austin after graduation or move north to Dallas, students will find ample internship and career opportunities in the state of Texas.

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at UT Austin?

Even if you think you have a good shot at meeting UT Austin’s admissions requirements, it’s still wise to calculate how your personal chances of acceptance stack up against other students applying to the university.

To better understand your chances of acceptance at UT Austin, we recommend using our free admissions calculator. The calculator uses your grades, extracurriculars, test scores, and other factors to determine your odds of acceptance. We’ll also give you tips on improving your academic profile to help your admissions chances.

You can also use this helpful tool to search for best-fit schools based on your chances and other factors like location, majors, size, and more. We’re here to assist you in making your college application process as hassle-free as possible.