Applicants interested in pursuing undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin have two options to apply for admissions: through the Common Application or the Official Website. With an acceptance rate of 31% for international students, it is evident that UT Austin admissions are moderately competitive. As such, it is essential for prospective students to familiarize themselves with the admission requirements and process to increase their chances of getting accepted.

To be considered for undergraduate admissions at the University of Texas at Austin, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.25. Additionally, English language proficiency scores are required, with TOEFL iBT and IELTS being accepted. In terms of test scores, SAT scores of 1420 and ACT scores ranging from 29-34 are recommended. Along with these academic requirements, applicants must submit a documents checklist which includes short essays, short answers, two letters of recommendation, and a resume.

The admission process for the University of Texas at Austin involves submitting the required documents and meeting the specified academic criteria. Prospective students can choose to apply through the Common Application or the Official Website and must ensure that all necessary materials are submitted by the deadline. Admissions decisions are made based on a holistic review of each applicant’s academic performance, test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular involvements. By carefully following the admission requirements and process, applicants can increase their chances of securing a spot at UT Austin.

University of Texas at Austin Admissions Information
Requirements Undergraduate Admissions GPA: 3.25 English Language Proficiency Scores: TOEFL iBT: 79-100 IELTS: 7.0 Test Scores: SAT: 1420 ACT: 29-34 Documents Checklist: Short Essays (250-300 words), Short Answers, 2 LOR, Resume
Quality of Education at UT Austin The University of Texas at Austin offers a wide range of academic programs and has a strong reputation for research and innovation. With a diverse student population and renowned faculty members, UT Austin provides a vibrant learning environment for students.
Relation to University Admission and Quality The requirements for undergraduate admissions at UT Austin, such as the minimum GPA, English language proficiency scores, and test score ranges, indicate a moderately competitive admissions process. These criteria ensure that students admitted to UT Austin are academically prepared to excel in their chosen fields of study.

uT austin acceptance rate 2022

In practice, about 90% of the applicant pool is Texan anyway. Each year, around 8% of admitted applicants come from other states and 2% from abroad. Historically, the admitted student profiles based on rank and test scores for Texans and non-Texans was relatively similar, each group gaining admission at a rate of 40%.

UT-Austin’s out-of-state (OOS) admissions rate is less than 10%.

State law requires that the University of Texas at Austin must reserve 90% of it’s spaces for Texas residents. In practice, about 90% of the applicant pool is Texan anyway. Each year, around 8% of admitted applicants come from other states and 2% from abroad.

Historically, the admitted student profiles based on rank and test scores for Texans and non-Texans was relatively similar, each group gaining admission at a rate of 40%. The OOS admissions rate as of Fall 2020 is around 8%.

My recommendations will not change because of UT-Austin going test-optional, which I discuss here. If you choose not to submit an ACT/SAT, you still need to have most or all A’s on the honors/AP track to be competitive, especially for majors that are in high demand.

I used to advise that the applicant pool for Texans and OOS was similar based on the applicant and admitted student numbers, but I’ve since revised this.

Check out this related post about establishing Texas residency through buying property.

how to get into ut austin

Is admission to UT-Austin more competitive if I am not from Texas?

Yes.

In recent years, admission for out of state students is more competitive than for Texas residents for a few reasons. As UT continues gaining recognition as a global leader particularly in Engineering, Business, and Computer Science, they attract more attention from students nationwide and around the world.

For Fall 2017 first-time freshman, 48% of Texans gained admission compared with 31% OOS. Only about one in every eight non-automatically admitted Texans, however, gain admission. For Fall 2019, admissions became significantly more competitive with only 32% of all applicants admitted and approximately 15% of OOS applicants getting in. Around 21,000 OOS and international applicants were competing for around 1,700 admissions spaces for Fall 2020 first-time freshman.

We can expect with UT continuing to gain national and international prestige, receiving more applicants from Texans and non-Texnas, and with UT decreasing their class sizes slightly, that OOS admissions will increase in competition in future cycles.

Note that each major, like Computer Science, Business, Engineering, and Honors Programs don’t need this 90:10 ratio and are usually more like 85:15 or 80:20 Texas/OOS students.

The admitted student profile for OOS students looks similar to admitted Texas students who rank outside of the top 6% of their high school. The middle 50% test score range for non-automatically admitted Texas residents was 28-33 on the ACT similar to OOS admitted students, 29-33. That means 25% of these admitted students scored higher than a 33 on the ACT.

UT-Austin separates the applicant pool based on residency, so Texans are only compared with one another, OOS against each other, and international applicants against one another. These categories are further broken down into a student’s first choice college or school.

It should be noted that although 90% of enrolling UT-Austin students must come from Texas, that doesn’t mean each major or honors program requires a similar representation. Consequently, there is an overrepresentation of OOS students in highly selective majors and honors.

Why is the applicant pool for OOS students more competitive?

My theory for why OOS spaces are more competitive is that the applicant pool is self-selecting. The largest feeder states to UT are unsurprisingly some of the nation’s largest: California, Florida, New York, Illinois (Chicago). 

Students applying to universities nationwide tend to be high achieving and above average compared with the typical applicant from Texas who may not be applying to any private or out of state universities.

UT must also be more conservative with the number of OOS students their admit because if more show up to campus than they anticipate it could disrupt the 90/10 balance between Texans and non-Texans.

An outstanding student from a great California high school for example might apply not just to their state’s flagship institutions, but also most selective private universities and other prestigious public universities like Washington, Michigan, Virginia, etc. OOS applicants also tend towards UT’s most popular and well-recognized programs like Business, Engineering, Communications, and Computer Science.

OOS applicants are also more likely to come from college-educated families, resource-rich suburban or private schools, and high socioeconomic backgrounds who can afford to pay private or out of state education premiums. The average OOS applicant likely has higher test scores and better grades than the average Texas resident who come from more varied backgrounds.

Client Outcomes and OOS Admissions Data

I take on six to eight OOS clients each year. I’ve worked with 33 non-Texas residents since Fall 2017. UT admissions does not care which state a student comes from, so I’ve not included that information here.

14 / 33 have gained UT admission (42%) while 19 were rejected (58%)

My average OOS client ranks in the top 10% of their class scoring around a 1480 on the SAT

Admissions rate by major:

• 7 / 11 gained admission to the McCombs School of Business (64%) with 2 for BHP
• 3 / 4 to the College of Natural Sciences (75%)
• 2 / 7 for Computer Science including 1 Turing (29%)
• 1 / 4 to the Cockrell School of Engineering (25%)
• 1 / 2 to the Moody College of Communications (50%)
• 0 / 4 to the College of Liberal Arts
• 0 / 1 to the School of Education

COMPLETE LIST OF OOS ADMISSIONS OFFERS:

Scholarship and honors in bold

Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Clemson, Case Western, Central Florida, Columbia, Colorado, U California: (Berkeley (Regents), Davis, Irvine (Regents), Los Angeles, Merced San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara), California Polytechnic, Drexel, Duke, Florida, Florida State, George Washington, Georgia, Illinois, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Miami, Michigan Ross, MIT, NC State, Ohio State, Pace, Rice, Rutgers, SMU, South Carolina, South Florida, TCU, Texas A&M, Temple, Tulane, UNC Charlotte, UNC-Chapel Hill, UT-Dallas, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt,.

If I’m OOS how should I approach my application? Should I even bother applying?

You cannot control your residency or which state you come from.

I encourage all applicants to focus only on factors that they can control. It’s especially critical that OOS applicants focus on demonstrating fit for their first choice major because it is highly unlikely your second choice would be considered.

OOS applicants are not eligible for automatic admission or pathway programs like CAP and PACE. Moreover, little to any financial aid is available for OOS students. As a general rule, enrolling non-Texans are expected to pay their full cost of attendance which can exceed $50,000 annually for at least their first year.

It is possible yet difficult to establish residency after your freshman year on campus. Residency questions are outside of the scope of my expertise, but you can get started here.

The question then for many non-Texans is whether they should apply at all. If your family cannot cover most or all of your expenses, you should consider applying also to less selective Texas universities or those from other states that may be more forthcoming with financial aid and scholarships.

If UT-Austin is one of your top choices, it only costs time and $75 to apply. My advice is that you apply, complete your financial aid forms and any scholarship applications, and assess your academic and financial options during the spring of your senior year to see if UT would be a good fit and investment for your future.

uT austin international students requirements

university of texas austin GRE requirements

Optional Materials: There is no minimum GRE test score, however competitive applicants are likely to have GRE quantitative and verbal scores in the 80th percentile or above. The GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Fall 2022 semesters.

A bachelor’s degree in computer science from a regionally accredited institution. Other degrees may be considered (particularly in related fields such as electrical engineering, computer engineering or mathematics) on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have a degree that is not in computer science or a related field should provide evidence of relevant content knowledge through coursework or work experience. Please detail relevant experience in your CV and personal statement.

Relevant Background

Applicants should have an extensive background in computer science or related sciences. Level of knowledge will be assessed by review of a student’s coursework and/or professional experience.

See below for a list of courses that are recommended for completion before applying to the online MCSO program.

The Admissions Committee recommends that applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree in computer science have prior coursework or experience equivalent to the following UT Computer Science core undergraduate courses:

• Discrete Math for Computer Science (CS 311)
• Introduction to Programming (CS 312)
• Data Structures (CS 314)
• Algorithms and Complexity (CS 331)
• Computer Organization and Architecture (CS 429)
• Principles of Computer Systems (CS 439)

Application Materials

Your application will be submitted through ApplyTexas.org. In addition to the ApplyTexas application, please review the following requirements and considerations.

DOWNLOAD THE ESSENTIAL CHECKLIST!

Required Materials

Statement of Purpose

A statement of purpose must be submitted via the MyStatus site as a “Statement of Purpose” document. Candidates should limit their submission to two pages describing their reasons for pursuing graduate study, academic and professional interests and goals. It may also include events/experiences that prepared you for graduate study.

CV/Resume

An applicant’s CV/resume will outline their work history, educational background, relevant publications, research and patents. At the end of the CV/resume please include a section about how you have covered relevant coursework (via MOOC’s, courses, work) and the grade associated with this course (assuming it was through a college or university).

Transcripts

Transcripts are required for all senior colleges and universities

TOEFL or IELTS

International applicants must have a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or IELTS exams.

For more information, please see UT Austin’s requirements for International Students support page. Any questions about the English Proficiency requirement need to be directed to the Graduate and International Admissions Center at giatest@austin.utexas.edu.

• The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are:
  • TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
  • IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination.

Optional Materials

GRE General score

There is no minimum GRE test score, however competitive applicants are likely to have GRE quantitative and verbal scores in the 80th percentile or above.

The GRE requirement will be waived for all applicants for the Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Fall 2022 semesters. 

Students may continue to submit official GRE scores for consideration, but they will not be required to do so. Providing GRE scores can bolster your application if there are aspects of your application that you feel may be not as competitive as others. For example, if you do not have a relevant or related degree (as clarified above), have not been in school in over 10 years, or you are an international applicant, adding a GRE score will assist the Admissions Committee in their review. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at msonline@cs.utexas.edu.

Letters of Recommendation

Up to three letters of recommendation may be included in an application. The recommenders will receive an email with a link to upload a reference letter. Letters of recommendation are optional and not required. Due to system constraints, the letters of recommendation are listed as required, but they are optional.

Application Process

See application deadlines above.

Please use this admissions checklist in the Application Materials section above and click on the embedded links to ensure your application and materials meet the Graduate School and program guidelines. Applying is a twofold process involving both Graduate School and program materials. Applicants are recommended to start the application process early in order to have all required materials received by the final deadline.

1. Apply to the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin

Applications are submitted electronically through ApplyTexas.

1. Create an account or log-in if you already have one.
2. Select Create a New Application.
3. Select, Create a new graduate school admissions application.
4. In the Target University, you choose University of Texas at Austin (Austin).
5. In the type of application, choose the most appropriate option.
6. Select the semester of entry.
7. Scroll down to Natural Sciences and select and select Computer Science (MS in Computer Science Online Program).
8. Continue on with the application.
9. Pay Application Fee.
10. Within 48 hours of the submission of your application you will be able to upload your CV as a “CV or Resume” document, and Statement of Purpose.

2. Check your MyStatus portal and upload applicable items

See checklist for Departmental Requirements and Graduate School Requirements

International Applicants are required to submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. Please visit this site for more information.

3. Send Test Scores

Send official GRE scores to UT Austin (optional)

Reference UT Austin code: 6882.

ETS should send your test scores to:
Graduate and International Admissions Center
The University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7608
Austin, Texas 78713-7608

Send official English proficiency exam scores (if applicable)

International applicants must submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. The Institutional TOEFL (ITP) is not accepted.

International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying country. The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution. For more information about TOEFL scores and graduate admission visit the graduate admission page.

All application materials received by the Admissions Center will be available to the Computer Science Admissions Committee.

4. Review Status and Upload Additional Documents

Visit MyStatus to monitor reference requests, upload your curriculum vitae or resume, submit additional items such as publications, resend a request, add a new recommender, and revise your FERPA waiver.

uT austin out of state tuition

Tuition & Fees

FULL PROGRAM

10 Courses
$10,000

Tuition is the same for U.S. and international students.

PER COURSE

$333 per
credit hour

FEES**

Some additional institutional fees may apply.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Students are encouraged to seek tuition reimbursement through their employer. If you work at a company that offers tuition benefits, speak with your manager or HR department to see what’s available to you.

Fees**

Each semester, students are extended the following fees when applicable:

• Late Registration
• International Support Student Services ($125)

does uT austin give scholarships to international students

Financial Aid

Graduate students pursuing a master’s online may apply for federal, state and institutional financial aid programs administered by the Office of Financial Aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please contact OFA at (512) 475-6282 for more information regarding these loans. Students are also encouraged to check with a lending institution of their choice for other possible student loans. In order to apply for a federally-backed educational loan, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once this form has been submitted, you may also sign up to receive your Financial Aid Notification (FAN) electronically. You will need to complete the FAFSA each fiscal year (October 1st) if you wish to receive aid. It is important to note that your application is completed based on your income tax filing for the previous year and your award will be for the Summer and Fall of the application year and the Spring in the following year. The 20/21 FAFSA form asks for 2018 tax information. If you’re filling out the 19/20 FAFSA form, you’ll need your 2017 tax information. The 19/20 FAFSA will cover fall 2019, spring 2020 and summer 2020. Then the 20/21 FAFSA will cover fall 2020, spring 2021 and summer 2021. If you plan to take summer classes you must have both the 19/20 and 20/21 FAFSA applications on file in order to qualify for financial aid. It is important to pay attention to all communications received in regards to your financial aid in order to avoid delaying your payment. We also encourage students to check their CASH pages weekly to ensure no new items are pending.

Visit financial aid at UT Austin for more information.

Additional Resources

UT’s Office of Financial Aid offers the following information on different ways to pay for your degree:

• Grants
• Scholarships
• Programs for Veterans