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2023 Trends In College Admissions at The University of Texas at Austin
Over the last 15 years, our team has worked with thousands of students who applied to The University of Texas at Austin. Our team is excited to share with you our analysis of the trends in admissions to UT Austin, as well as the implications for students who hope to #BeALonghorn.
We know you have heard that the UT Austin admissions process is stressful (and it can be).
We have a unique approach at College MatchPoint. Our team provides a framework that reduces the stress in this process, so a student can focus on the important work of telling their story.
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Your student took advanced classes, earned excellent grades, stayed active in school clubs, volunteered on weekends, and maybe even scored above a 1450 on the SAT. They hit every benchmark. Their college list was thoughtful. UT Austin was the top choice. And still, they were denied. This story is more common than many people realize. Each year, UT Austin turns away thousands of highly qualified applicants.
At The University of Texas at Austin, what you list as your second-choice major is not just a backup plan. It is a real part of your application strategy. In fact, for many students who are not automatically admitted through the top 5% rule, that second-choice major could be the difference between an offer and a denial. But it only works if you approach it with intention. UT does not view the second-choice major as a throwaway. It still gets reviewed through the same holistic process. If you choose it wisely and align your application materials accordingly, it can open another door into one of the most competitive public universities in the country.
For decades, the University of Texas at Austin has been the dream school for many Texas families. With its nationally ranked programs, strong alumni network, and unbeatable Austin location, it is no surprise UT remains one of the most sought-after public universities in the country. But in 2025, with over 96,000 applications submitted and rising selectivity across nearly every major, it is important to pause and ask: Is UT Austin still the right fit for your student?
If your teen isn’t in the top 5% of their class, you’ve probably heard some version of this: “There’s no way they’ll get into UT.” It’s a myth we hear all the time—and it’s simply not true. Yes, UT Austin is more competitive than ever. With over 90,000 applicants for the Class of 2025 and an admit rate of just 24% , the numbers tell a clear story. And for students who are not in the top 5% , the odds drop even further: the admit rate for non-auto-admit students was just 11% .
The 2025 admissions cycle revealed something parents and students can no longer afford to overlook: colleges are not just evaluating students. They are building classes that reflect a carefully designed set of institutional priorities. While your teen may have done "everything right," the schools they applied to were also weighing factors well beyond grades and test scores. Understanding these factors is key to helping families navigate the process with less stress and more clarity.
When students apply to UT Austin, many focus on getting into the university. But UT admissions doesn’t work that way. You're not applying to UT Austin. You’re applying to your first-choice major at UT Austin—and that changes everything. Whether it’s Business at McCombs, Engineering at Cockrell, or a major like Biology, Journalism, or Public Health, what UT wants to know is simple but powerful: Have you shown that you're ready to succeed in this specific major—starting on day one? That’s the heart of what UT calls “fit to major.” And it might just be the most important—and misunderstood—part of the application. Join our webinar on August 6th to unpack what it really means, why it matters more than ever, and how students can take intentional steps to build their story of fit.