AUSTIN, Texas — Applications for freshman admission to The University of Texas at Austin increased 24.3% for the Fall 2025 term, compared with the number received one year ago. The University received 90,562 applications during the submission period of Aug. 1 to Dec. 1, compared with 72,885 applications received for Fall 2024 admission. Applications from Texas residents increased by 12%, while out-of-state applications soared by 48%.
This marks the third consecutive year UT has received a record-breaking volume of freshman applications.
“Our applications provide evidence that more people around the country are realizing that we offer an unparalleled combination of academic excellence, affordability, opportunity and campus experience,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “Our excellence starts with our faculty and student body, and covers a broad span, from AI to energy, the arts, and athletics. And, we continue to find new ways to make this ‘excellence at scale’ more affordable and accessible to students from an incredible variety of backgrounds, and to make sure they succeed once they are here.”
New Degree Programs: The surge in interest coincides with expanded academic offerings and unprecedented gains in student performance and research output. The University is offering two new honors programs, the first of its kind in the country in robotics, and a Civics Honors degree from UT’s newest school, the School of Civic Leadership. This cycle is also the first time students can opt to pursue an undergraduate degree program in the LBJ School of Public Affairs. All of these new programs have shown robust demand.
Student Performance: UT students are succeeding across the academic spectrum. First-year undergraduate retention remains at an all-time high of 96.7%. The four-year graduation rate reached a record 74.8%, nearly 23 percentage points higher than the 52.0% mark of a decade ago. Four-year graduation rates for Pell-eligible, first-generation, Black and Hispanic students continue to outpace the 10-year gains of all students.
“The competition to attract the most talented students has never been greater, and awareness of the impact and value of a UT degree has never been higher,” said interim Provost Rachel Davis Mersey. “We have a unique blend of exceptional academics and vibrant student life that offers an unmatched educational experience, and this is what continues to drive our record demand.”
Affordability: UT continues to implement new initiatives to increase affordability and accessibility. Most recently, the UT System Board of Regents raised the household income threshold to $100,000 from $65,000 for students to attend tuition-free under UT’s Texas Advance Commitment (TAC) program. This will allow an additional 3,000 students to enroll tuition-free in Fall 2025. Currently, 14,500 UT undergraduates — one-third of the undergraduate student population — benefit from free or reduced tuition.
TAC, combined with other forms of financial aid and scholarships, have reduced the average net tuition paid by in-state undergraduate students to $4,152 per year. Additionally, the University’s housing affordability scholarship offsets housing costs up to $2,300 for students with the greatest financial need.
UT Select Academic and Research Rankings
- No. 7 among American public universities, U.S. News & World Report.
- 55 graduate programs ranked among the top 10.
- No. 18 for scientific research, Nature Index.
- No. 19 most innovative school, U.S. News & World Report.
- $1.04 billion in research.
- No. 6 among U.S. universities in research financed by the National Science Foundation.
- No. 3 in the world for most patents granted (UT System-wide), National Academy of Inventors.
- 7,000-plus peer-reviewed articles published (FY 2023).
