UT Austin · OOS percentage explained

UT Austin Out-of-State Percentage

How the 10% non-resident cap works, why it exists, how it affects acceptance rates for OOS applicants, and where OOS students actually come from.
Cites Texas Education Code §54.052Last reviewed 2026-06-23Not affiliated with UT or THECBPublished by Luke Allen, TREC #788149
The 10% cap explained

UT Austin caps non-resident undergraduate enrollment at approximately 10% of the entering class by Texas state law and Board of Regents policy. This means approximately 850-1,000 non-resident freshmen admitted per year out of ~8,500-9,000 total. OOS acceptance rate: approximately 8-13% (materially lower than 31% overall rate). Non-residents compete in a small holistic-review pool while Texas Top 10% Rule auto-admits consume ~75% of in-state seats.

The 10% cap in numbers

  • Total undergraduate enrollment: ~42,000 students
  • OOS undergraduate students: ~4,200 (10% of enrollment)
  • Entering freshman class size: ~8,500-9,000 per year
  • OOS freshman admits per year: ~850-1,000
  • Texas Top 10% Rule auto-admits: ~75% of in-state seats (~5,700-6,000 auto-admits per year)
  • Holistic review pool: remaining ~25% of in-state seats + 10% of OOS seats = ~1,900-2,300 seats via holistic review

Why the cap exists

UT Austin is a state institution. Texas Constitution establishes UT as serving Texas residents primarily. State law and Board of Regents policy limit non-resident enrollment to protect access for Texas residents. The Top 10% Rule further guarantees admission to the top percentage of Texas high school graduates.

The 10% cap is not arbitrary; it reflects:

  • Constitutional intent that UT serves Texas primarily
  • Political pressure to maintain access for Texas residents
  • Higher tuition revenue from non-residents (but capped to prevent over-reliance on OOS revenue)
  • Diversity considerations (some geographic diversity is valued)

Top OOS feeder states (approximate order)

RankStateApproximate Annual OOS Freshmen
1California~120-150
2New York~80-100
3Illinois~50-70
4Florida~50-70
5Georgia~40-60
6New Jersey~40-55
7Massachusetts~30-45
8Virginia~30-45
9Colorado~25-40
10Maryland~25-40
11Washington~25-40
12Connecticut~20-35
13Arizona~20-35
14Tennessee~20-30
15Pennsylvania~20-30

These numbers are approximate based on UT enrollment reporting. Detailed guides for each origin state at /by-state.

How the cap affects OOS acceptance rate

The 10% cap combined with ~10,000-12,000 annual OOS applications produces OOS acceptance rate of approximately 8-13%. Non-residents compete in a small, competitive pool where every seat matters. Selective UT programs (McCombs, CS, Cockrell ECE) see even lower OOS rates due to program-specific competition.

What the 10% cap means for OOS applicants

  • Academic profile must be strong: top 5% of class, SAT 1450+ or ACT 33+, substantial extracurricular depth
  • Essay quality matters: in a small competitive pool, essays differentiate applicants
  • Major choice matters: less-selective UT colleges (Liberal Arts, Education) have higher OOS acceptance than McCombs, CS, Cockrell ECE
  • Apply by November 1 priority deadline: maximizes admissions and scholarship consideration
  • Complete UT Honors and Scholarship Application: unlocks institutional merit aid

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of UT Austin students are out-of-state?
Approximately 10% of UT Austin's undergraduate population is out-of-state students. Texas state law (via Board of Regents policy) caps non-resident undergraduate enrollment at 10% of the entering freshman class. This is roughly 850-1,000 non-resident admits per year across an entering class of approximately 8,500-9,000 freshmen.
Why is UT Austin's OOS percentage so low?
Texas Constitution establishes UT as a state institution primarily serving Texas residents. State law and Board of Regents policy limit non-resident undergraduate enrollment to protect access for Texas residents. The Texas Top 10% Rule guarantees admission to the top 6-8% of Texas high school graduates, further concentrating in-state admits. Non-residents compete for the remaining ~10% of seats through holistic review.
What states send the most students to UT Austin?
Top OOS feeder states (by count): California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, Washington, Connecticut, Arizona. Combined, these approximately 15 states send ~60% of UT's non-resident students; the remaining ~40% come from the other 35 states plus international.
How does the 10% cap affect OOS acceptance rate?
The 10% cap constrains supply of OOS seats. Applications from OOS students typically exceed available seats by 8-13x. This produces an OOS acceptance rate of approximately 8-13%, compared to 31% overall (which includes Top 10% Rule auto-admits from Texas high schools).
Do international students count against the 10% cap?
International students are typically counted separately from OOS students in UT enrollment reporting, though both compete for the same holistic review pool. International undergraduates typically comprise 3-5% of enrollment additional to the 10% OOS cap.

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