University of Texas System: What Is It? Should You Apply?
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Editor & Writer
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- The University of Texas (UT) System is a network of public colleges and health centers in Texas.
- The UT system is made up of eight schools, including its flagship school UT Austin.
- Many UT schools accept the Common App, including UT Austin.
- UT schools grant automatic admission to top-achieving high school graduates.
If you're considering attending school in the Lone Star state, you may want to apply to a school in the University of Texas (UT) system. One of six public college systems in Texas, the 140-year-old UT system includes some of the largest and well-known schools in the state.
And with eight academic campuses varying in size and location across the state, you'll likely be able to find a good fit for your needs within the UT system.
What Is the University of Texas System?
The University of Texas system is a network of public colleges, universities, and health institutions in Texas. The system includes some of the best colleges in Texas, including UT Austin, home of the well-known college football team — the Texas Longhorns — and one of the "Public Ivies."
Collectively, UT schools and medical centers enroll nearly 250,000 students and employ over 116,000 faculty members, researchers, medical professionals, student employees, and other workers.
What Is the UT System Flagship School?
The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship institution of the UT system. But what exactly is a flagship school? Usually, the most well-known school in a public university system is their "flagship" school.
Flagships are typically the oldest public colleges in the state, the most selective and highly regarded academically, and the biggest and most well-funded of all the system schools.
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What Schools Are in the University of Texas System?
The University of Texas system includes eight academic institutions, along with five medical centers. UT schools range in size from fewer than 6,000 students to some of the largest schools in the state.
| Academic Institution | Total Student Enrollment | Avg. Annual Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applicants | Automatic Admissions Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 43,946 | $14,262 | 81% | 21,963 | Top 25% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 52,384 | $17,434 | 31% | 60,055 | Top 6% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 31,570 | $13,555 | 85% | 21,500 | Top 10% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | 23,880 | $9,563 | 100% | 10,493 | Top 25% |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin | 5,848 | $10,370 | 95% | 1,475 | Top 25% |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 31,559 | $8,105 | 88% | 13,744 | Top 10% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | 34,393 | $12,664 | 87% | 23,295 | Top 25% |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 9,322 | $13,248 | 94% | 3,493 | Top 25% |
Applying to a University of Texas System School
Despite being part of the same university system, each UT school maintains its own enrollment requirements. Be sure to carefully review these before applying.
One thing UT schools do have in common is that all of them accept applications through the ApplyTexas portal, a centralized application system for all public colleges in Texas.
If you plan on using the Common App to apply to schools in other states, you're in luck — as of 2022, the University of Texas at Austin joined the Common App system, bringing the total number of UT schools that accept this method of application up to five: Arlington, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio.
ApplyTexas Application Process
If you're just looking to apply to Texas colleges, you may want to use ApplyTexas to apply to UT system schools. ApplyTexas is similar to the Common App but limited to the state of Texas.
Prospective students can conveniently apply to multiple public colleges in Texas using just one centralized application process and can easily copy and paste portions of their application from one school into another school's application to make the process more efficient.
Typical ApplyTexas application materials:
- Application form
- Application fee
- All official transcripts
- Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
- Essay and short answers
Texas Automatic Admissions
Another way Texas has made the application process a little less daunting for prospective in-state students is through automatic admissions. If you're a graduating high school student in Texas with residency status, you may be automatically accepted into a UT school after applying if you graduated in the top 6%-25% of your class.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the University of Texas System
How many total students are in the University of Texas system?
Over 243,000 students are enrolled in the University of Texas system. The largest UT system school is the University of Texas at Austin, with over 50,000 students.
How many schools are in the University of Texas system?
The University of Texas system includes eight schools, with locations in Arlington, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tyler. The UT system also includes five health institutions: two medical centers, two health science centers, and one cancer center.
Where is the University of Texas?
The flagship school of the University of Texas system is located in Austin, Texas and has the largest number of students of all eight of the UT schools. UT San Antonio is located just south of Austin. Two UT schools — UT Dallas and UT Arlington — are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
The UT system also has schools in the western (El Paso and Permian Basin), eastern (Tyler), and southern (Rio Grande Valley) regions of the state.
What is the Finish@UT program?
The Finish@UT program is an online college program in Texas designed to help UT students who have already finished a set of core credit hours complete their degree. Students in the program can earn a bachelor's degree online from one of four UT system schools.
