AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin set seven new highs for key enrollment indicators in the 2025-2026 academic year that reflect soaring student demand and student performance. The University’s total enrollment and incoming freshman class are the largest in its 142-year history, while graduation rates, retention rates, degrees conferred, and freshman applications also rose to new heights.
UT’s total enrollment for the fall term is 55,000, up 2.1% from the previous year. The entering freshman class of First-Time in College students is 9,900, up 7.5% from last fall. The University received a record 90,690 freshman applications for the Fall 2025 term, up 24.4% from last year and an increase of 51% since 2022.
Students who are Texas residents make up 80.5% of all students, while another 10.2% are from outside of Texas, representing 48 other U.S. states and the District of Columbia. International enrollment of 5,140 is down 1.7% from 2024 and comprises 9.3% of all students. Among undergraduates, 10,030, or 22.6%, are first-generation students.
“We are educating more students than at any time in our University’s history, and most importantly, we are doing it while maintaining our standard of academic excellence,” said UT President Jim Davis. “That is our commitment as the public flagship university in Texas. I am proud of our students for their achievements and grateful to our faculty and staff for their hard work in support of our students’ academic experience.”
Greater affordability and strong student performance are fueling higher demand. Average net tuition — the cost per year for a full-time student once financial aid and other discounts are applied — continues to fall. On average, full-time undergraduate Texas residents paid $3,852 for the 2024-2025 academic year, compared with the average full tuition of $11,823. Incoming full-time freshman Texas residents paid an average net tuition of $2,528.
Under Texas Advance Commitment (TAC), more than 12,200 undergraduate students are attending UT with their tuition fully covered after the UT System Board of Regents voted to expand the program’s scope. TAC now covers full tuition for students whose families make up to $100,000 adjusted gross income (AGI), compared with the previous threshold of $65,000 AGI. More than 1,500 students whose families make between $100,000 and $125,000 AGI receive partial tuition support.
While enrolled on the Forty Acres, students are thriving. UT’s retention rate — the percentage of first-year students who continue their studies into their second year — is the highest ever at 97.1%. Also, more students are graduating in four years or sooner, as the University’s four-year graduation rate climbed to a record 75.7%. The sustained rise in retention and graduation rates resulted in a record 15,963 degrees conferred during the 2024-2025 academic year that ended in August.
“Student experience is important,” said Miguel Wasielewski, senior vice provost for strategic enrollment management. “We have intentionally controlled our rate of growth to make sure our faculty-student ratio, course selection, facilities and resources can enable every student to have a unique and engaging experience in and out of the classroom, which contributes to their performance.”
Records set as of the 12th class day of the Fall 2025 term (reflects enrollment data as of the 12th class day):
| Fall 2024 | Fall 2025 | Change | |
| Total enrollment | 53,864 | 55,000 | 2.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 43,165 | 44,314 | 2.7% |
| FTIC enrollment | 9,210 | 9,900 | 7.5% |
| Freshman applications | 72,885 | *90,690 | 24.4% |
| Degrees conferred | 15,387 | 15,963 | 3.7% |
| Four-year graduation rate | 75.0% | 75.7% | 0.7 points |
| First-year retention rate | 96.7% | 97.1% | 0.4 points |
*Updated from 90,562 as reported in December after the application period closed.
