Here is the thing about UT Austin that catches most families off guard: there is no merit chart. No table where a 3.8 GPA and a 32 ACT lands you a set dollar amount. Plenty of big public flagships publish one. UT does not, and it never has.
What UT has instead is a small number of very large awards handed out by committee, a broad promise to cover tuition for Texas families under a certain income, and a scattered collection of college and department money that only becomes visible after your student is already admitted. That combination means the strategy at UT looks nothing like the strategy at a school with automatic merit. Filing paperwork on time matters more than test scores. Picking the right major on the application matters more than almost anything else.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UT Austin (Read This First)
Automatic admission gets you into the University, not into the major. Texas students in the top 5 percent of their class are automatically admitted for Fall 2027. That guarantee stops at the front door. Computer Science, business, and engineering all run their own competitive review, and your student can be auto-admitted to UT while being turned away from the major they actually wanted.
Honors programs are locked to the majors you list. Your student cannot apply to Turing Scholars without listing Computer Science. Cannot apply to Canfield Business Honors without listing Business first. Changing major selections later means emailing admissions and waiting three to five business days, so get this right on the first submission.
Test scores are required, and UT does not superscore. One test date, one composite. Mixing your best math from March with your best reading from June does not work here.
The honors deadline is not the application deadline. Applications close December 1. Honors applications and all supplemental materials close December 10. Two different dates, ten days apart, and families miss the second one constantly.
January 15 is the most expensive date on the calendar. It is the financial aid priority date, the cutoff for Texas Advance Commitment consideration, the gate for University Leadership Network and Presidential Scholars, and the deadline for the optional Forty Acres interest form. Miss it and several doors close quietly at once.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No — University of Texas at Austin is test-required.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 29-34; SAT: 1230-1480.
Average net price? About $19,678/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes — participates in acm_grad_only.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Texas at Austin 2026-2027
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$12,217
$42,574
Housing & Meals (typical)
$15,465
$15,465
Total (Direct Costs)
$27,682
$58,039
Average Federal Net Price: $19,678 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
UT Austin does not offer a broad automatic out-of-state discount. Some nonresidents may qualify for a competitive scholarship tuition waiver that waives the nonresident portion of tuition; waivers are limited, competitive, and tied to specific UT-recognized scholarships.
✅ Important correction for Texas families: tuition is frozen.
The Texas Legislature froze resident undergraduate tuition, mandatory academic fees, and college course fees at UT for both the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. If your student is entering in Fall 2027, do not budget the usual annual increase on the in-state tuition line. Housing, food, and non-academic fees are not covered by the freeze and can still move.
📐 Why your number may not match the table above
UT charges different tuition depending on which college your student enrolls in. The figures above are midpoints of UT’s published range. Business and engineering students pay a differential of $550 per semester in-state and $1,100 out-of-state. Natural Sciences students pay $250 and $500. UT’s official 2026-2027 range runs $10,858 to $13,576 in-state and $42,554 to $51,106 out-of-state.
Practical translation: if your student is headed for McCombs or Cockrell from out of state, budget the top of that range, not the middle. That is a swing of roughly $8,500 a year.
💰 The Texas Advance Commitment (the biggest number on this page for in-state families)
Texas residents with a family adjusted gross income up to $100,000 and demonstrated need have their tuition covered at UT Austin. Families between $100,000 and $125,000 receive partial tuition support. There is no separate application, no GPA requirement, and no test threshold. Submit the FAFSA or TASFA and complete your aid file by January 15.
One catch worth knowing: it covers tuition only. Housing, food, books, and travel are still yours. Students who receive coverage and sign an on-campus housing contract do get an added housing scholarship of $2,500 (full coverage) or $1,500 (partial support).
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at UT Austin
Why is out-of-state tuition roughly four times the in-state rate?
Because Texas taxpayers subsidize the in-state seat and UT is required by the state to prioritize Texas residents. Unlike many flagships, UT does not offset that gap with broad non-resident discounts or regional reciprocity. A handful of competitive scholarships carry a waiver of the non-resident portion, but they are limited and tied to specific awards.
Can an out-of-state student become a Texas resident to get in-state tuition?
Not by simply moving to Austin and enrolling. Texas residency for tuition purposes generally requires establishing domicile for twelve months for reasons other than attending school, which a full-time student typically cannot do. Some families do pursue this through a parent relocating for work. Read UT’s residency page carefully before counting on it.
What is Longhorn Fixed Tuition and is it worth it?
It locks your tuition rate for four consecutive years. The locked rate starts higher than the standard rate because it is priced off projected averages, so you are paying a premium up front for certainty later. It also unlocks an extra $2,500 tuition rebate at graduation on top of the standard $1,000 rebate. You must enroll by the twelfth class day of your first semester, and that window does not reopen.
What is the tuition rebate everyone mentions?
Texas offers up to $1,000 back at graduation to undergraduates who finish efficiently, meaning no more than three credit hours beyond what the degree required, at least 60 hours in residence, and graduation within four years for a four-year degree. Longhorn Fixed Tuition participants can claim an additional $2,500. You have to apply for it before you graduate. Nobody hands it to you.
Why is the average net price so much lower than the sticker price?
Because the Texas Advance Commitment and federal and state grants absorb tuition for a large share of the in-state student body. The federal net price figure blends those families in with families paying full freight. Your actual number depends almost entirely on residency and income, not on merit.
Do scholarships my student wins on their own reduce their UT aid?
Sometimes, yes. Federal rules cap total aid at the cost of attendance. If your student is already funded to that ceiling, an outside scholarship displaces something else. UT reduces loans first, which is the outcome you want. But a large outside award can eventually trim grant aid.
⚠️ Read this before you compare UT to other schools
UT Austin does not publish an automatic merit scholarship ladder. There is no GPA and test score table that guarantees a dollar amount. If you are comparing UT against schools that do publish one, you are comparing two completely different systems.
The one thing at UT that behaves automatically is the Texas Advance Commitment, and it runs on family income rather than on grades.
📅 UT Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
August 1: Application and honors application open.
October 15: Early Action deadline. Materials due October 22.
December 1: Final application deadline. Materials due December 10.
December 10: Honors application deadline. This is a separate date from December 1.
January 15: FAFSA and TASFA priority. Texas Advance Commitment, ULN, and Presidential Scholars all key off this date. Also the deadline for the optional Forty Acres interest form.
March 1: Texas Exes scholarship application closes, and honors decisions are released.
March 15: UT’s Continuing and Transfer Scholarship Application closes.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 10 as your real application deadline, not December 1. The ten-day gap is where honors applications and late test scores go to die.
Automatic Aid at UT Austin
The award below requires no separate application and no minimum GPA or test score. It is decided entirely by residency, income, and whether your financial aid file is complete by January 15. Everything else at UT is competitive.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.
Note: The Texas Advance Commitment covers tuition. Housing, food, books, and transportation are not included, though eligible students living on campus receive an added housing scholarship. Out-of-state families are not eligible for this program and should focus on the competitive and honors sections below.
Automatic Aid — FAQs (UT Austin)
Does UT have any guaranteed merit scholarship?
No. UT does not guarantee a scholarship for any GPA or test score at any level. Even a perfect application carries no automatic award. This is one of the biggest differences between UT and its peer flagships in the region.
Then why do I keep hearing about UT scholarships?
Because UT does award a great deal of money, just not on a formula. It flows through the Texas Advance Commitment for in-state need, through a small number of large committee-selected awards, and through college and department endowments that mostly surface after enrollment.
Do I have to file the FAFSA if we will not qualify for need-based aid?
File it anyway. UT states that students who skip it are still considered for scholarships that do not require need, but you are removing yourself from the widest pool for no reason. It costs an evening.
What is TASFA and who uses it?
It is the Texas Application for State Financial Aid, for Texas residents who cannot file a FAFSA. It carries the same January 15 priority date and the same Texas Advance Commitment eligibility.
Is the Texas Advance Commitment renewable?
Yes, but it is re-evaluated every year against that year’s FAFSA or TASFA. Your student needs a 2.0 GPA and completion of 67 percent of attempted hours. If family income rises above the ceiling, the award goes away, so this is not locked in for four years the way a merit scholarship would be.
Where do I see it on the award letter?
You will not. UT does not label the line “Texas Advance Commitment.” Grants and scholarships from several sources combine to meet the promise. Read the tuition line and check that it is covered, rather than searching for the program name.
This is where UT’s real money lives. Because there is no merit ladder, the awards below carry the full weight of UT’s scholarship budget for students who are not covered by need-based aid. They are small in number and genuinely competitive.
📣 Big change parents need to know: Forty Acres no longer has a separate application.
For years the advice was to fill out a standalone Forty Acres application through the Texas Exes. That is no longer how it works. Applying to UT through the Common App or ApplyTexas automatically puts your student in the candidate pool. If your student wants to raise their hand deliberately, they can complete the Scholarship Interest Form in MyStatus, which adds an expanded resume and one more essay, due January 15. Both routes go through the same review.
If you read older advice telling you to submit a separate Forty Acres app, ignore it. It is out of date.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UT?
Aid Type
Stacks?
UT Parent Translation
Texas Advance Commitment
Yes, up to tuition
Grants apply first and UT fills the gap to tuition. Other awards can shift what covers the bill without raising the total.
Forty Acres / Dedman (full-ride)
Effectively no
These already cover full cost of attendance. Nothing can go on top, because federal rules cap aid there. Additional awards just reduce the UT portion.
College & department endowments
Usually yes
These are the real gap fillers. Cockrell, Moody, CNS, and McCombs money layers cleanly on top of a need-based package.
Texas Exes awards
Yes
Donor-funded and independent of UT’s budget. One application, many pools. Stacks up to cost of attendance.
Outside scholarships
Yes, with a ceiling
UT reduces loans first, which is what you want. Only a very large outside award starts eating into grants.
The honest picture: if your student is a strong but not extraordinary applicant from out of state, UT is an expensive school with limited merit relief. If your student is a Texas resident under the income ceiling, UT is one of the better values in the country. If your student is a genuine national-caliber candidate, the two full-ride programs below are worth chasing hard.
Full RideApp Required
Forty Acres Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Fall (Texas Exes timeline) · 📢 Results: Spring ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full cost of attendance plus enrichment funding (summer programs, study abroad, internship support)
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Approximately 15–20 scholars per cohort winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Forty Acres covers the full cost of attendance, so additional UT or outside awards typically can't increase the total package — they may reduce the Forty Acres portion. The enrichment funding for summer programs is the real differentiator on top of the COA coverage.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UT Austin by Dec 1; submit the separate Forty Acres application through Texas Exes by the published fall deadline; finalists are invited to an in-person selection weekend in Austin.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
UT Austin's flagship full-ride. Separate application through Texas Exes alumni association; admitted-student status alone doesn't put a student in the pool. The selection weekend is part of the process — interview prep matters as much as the written app.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A very small cohort (roughly 15–20 a year) with national-caliber academics, sustained leadership over years rather than a list of one-off activities, and a clear story about impact. Stats alone won't get a student to the finalist weekend — judges want to see who they are.
Automatic
University Leadership Network (ULN)
📅 Deadline: Jan 15 (financial aid completion) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
ULN funding stacks with federal and state aid up to cost of attendance. The paid internship component is a real income stream on top of the scholarship — students earn while building résumé experience.
💡
Strategic Detail
ULN is a four-year cohort program — students commit to attending weekly leadership meetings and complete a paid internship sequence. There's no separate application, but FAFSA/TASFA timing is everything. Late aid files quietly remove students from consideration.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Texas residents with documented financial need who show leadership promise and resilience. The program looks for students who'll thrive in a structured cohort environment with required programming.
App Required
Terry Foundation Scholarship (UT Partner)
📅 Deadline: Fall (Terry Foundation deadline) · 📢 Results: Spring ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Terry is structured as gap-filling — it covers what other aid doesn't, up to tuition, fees, books, and reasonable living costs. Stacking outside awards can reduce the Terry portion rather than increase the total package.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Terry Foundation application (separate from UT) by the foundation's fall deadline; finalists are invited to interview. Admission to UT Austin is required.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Terry is a private foundation, not a UT program, but it partners closely with UT Austin and several other Texas publics. The application is separate and the foundation's interview is a real gate. Treat it like a second admissions process.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving Texas students from low- to moderate-income families with a track record of sustained leadership and persistence. Terry looks closely at character — recommendations and the interview carry real weight.
Automatic
Presidential Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Jan 15 (financial aid completion) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Presidential Scholars funding stacks with federal Pell and Texas grants up to cost of attendance. Because the award is need-influenced, large outside scholarships can sometimes reduce the Presidential portion.
💡
Strategic Detail
Quiet program with no separate app — but FAFSA timing decides everything. The Jan 15 financial aid deadline is the real gate. Awards are typically announced late winter to early spring along with the rest of UT's institutional aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Academically strong incoming freshmen whose FAFSA or TASFA shows significant financial need. There's no published GPA or test floor — UT pulls from the competitive admitted pool.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Texas Exes Scholarships (General Pool)
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 · 📢 Results: Spring Non-Renewable
$1,000–$10,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Texas Exes awards stack with federal, state, and other UT aid up to cost of attendance. Because award amounts are donor-driven and vary widely, the value of applying is in being in many pools at once with a single app.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the single Texas Exes scholarship application through the Texas Exes Academic Works portal by Mar 1; one application puts students into the pool for many donor-funded awards.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The single most underused funnel for UT money. One application puts a student in dozens of donor pools, including chapter and affinity awards. Mar 1 is the deadline parents most often miss because it falls between admissions decisions and committing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with solid academics plus a compelling story — leadership, service, regional ties, family background, or a specific identity often matter more than raw stats. Different donors weight different things.
Data last verified Jun 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How do we apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
You already did, if your student applied to UT. There is no standalone application anymore. To self-indicate interest, complete the Scholarship Interest Form in MyStatus, available from September 1, and submit the expanded resume and additional essay by January 15. Only students selected to advance are contacted.
How many Forty Acres Scholars are there?
Roughly fifteen to twenty per cohort out of tens of thousands of applicants. Treat it as a long shot regardless of your student’s profile, and do not build a college budget around it.
Can out-of-state students win Forty Acres?
Yes. It is open to in-state and out-of-state seniors, and it functions as a waiver of the non-resident tuition portion. Transfer and international students are not eligible, though they can apply for other Texas Exes scholarships.
What is the University Leadership Network and how do we apply?
There is no application. UT selects ULN students through internal review after admission and financial aid are complete. It is a four-year cohort program with required weekly programming and a paid internship sequence, so it is a real income stream on top of the scholarship. Everything hinges on your aid file being complete by January 15.
What is the Terry Foundation and is it part of UT?
No. Terry is an independent private foundation that partners with UT and several other Texas public universities. It has its own application, its own fall deadline, and a real interview gate. Treat it as a second admissions process rather than a checkbox.
What are Presidential Scholars?
A quiet, need-influenced award of up to about $5,000 per year with no separate application and no published GPA or test floor. UT draws from the admitted pool. Once again, the January 15 aid deadline is the actual gate.
Is the Texas Exes application worth the time?
It is the single best return on effort at UT. One application by March 1 puts your student into dozens of donor pools, including small chapter funds where the applicant count can be in the single digits. Most families miss it because it falls between admission decisions and the May 1 commit date.
Is UT a Stamps or QuestBridge partner?
No to both. UT is not a current Stamps partner and is not a QuestBridge college partner.
🧠 Parent Strategy: UT’s Money Hides Behind a Login
Most of the awards in this section are invisible from the outside. They live in LASSO, UT’s internal scholarship platform, and inside individual college portals. Your student will not see them on any public page, and they will not see them until after admission.
Complete the Texas Exes application by March 1. Fill in the home-region and affinity questions, because those trigger chapter fund consideration automatically.
Once admitted, log into LASSO and actually search it. Do not assume UT will match your student to everything.
Find your college’s own scholarship application. Cockrell, Moody, and CNS each run one, and one submission covers dozens of donor awards.
The Continuing and Transfer Scholarship Application opens in November and closes March 15. That is a different date from Texas Exes.
Save confirmation screens for everything.
Parent translation: at UT, the money that actually moves the needle for a middle-income family is not the famous full-ride. It is four or five of these stacked together.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
None of these are automatic and most require a login your student will not have until spring. They stack with need-based aid, they layer on each other, and they are the difference between UT being affordable and UT being a loan problem.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
First Abroad Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Before study abroad term Non-Renewable
$3,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
First Abroad stacks with other UT aid and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance for the term abroad. Many first-gen students underestimate how much existing aid can travel with them on a UT-approved program — this is additive.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through UT's Texas Global office before the study abroad term; submit financial aid documentation and a brief statement.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One of UT's most actionable hidden gems for first-gen families — a flat $3,000 that often closes the gap on a study abroad term. Most students never hear about it because it lives inside Texas Global, not the main scholarship portal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students who plan their study abroad term early, meet with a Texas Global advisor, and submit complete documentation before the deadline. The pool is small and self-selecting.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Texas Exes Chapter & Affinity Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Spring (varies by chapter, generally Mar 1) Non-Renewable
$1,000–$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Chapter awards stack with the general Texas Exes pool — students can be selected for multiple awards through one application. Some chapters have very small applicant pools, which makes these among the most winnable UT-affiliated dollars.
📄
How to Apply
Use the same single Texas Exes application as the general pool — selecting home region or affinity group in the portal automatically enters the student in matching chapter funds.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Most parents miss these because they're buried inside the broader Texas Exes application. The trick is to actually fill in the home-region question and any affinity affiliations — that triggers chapter consideration automatically.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from the chapter's geographic area, or with the affinity tie the fund honors, who apply early and write specifically about their connection to the region or group. Generic essays don't win these.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Longhorn Band Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies (post-placement) ✓ Renews
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Band scholarships stack with UT institutional aid and outside awards up to cost of attendance. They often layer cleanly with departmental scholarships because they're funded separately.
💡
Strategic Detail
Real money for non-music-major band members. Many students don't realize the Butler School supports band participants from any major with named endowed funds — placement in the band is the first step, applications follow.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Active Longhorn Band members in good academic standing who show commitment across multiple semesters. GPA requirements vary by specific endowment, but the consistent signal is musical commitment plus solid academics.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
First-Generation Endowed Scholarships (UT-Wide)
📅 Deadline: UT scholarship cycle ✓ Renews
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
First-gen funds stack with federal Pell, Texas grants, and other UT aid up to cost of attendance. Several distinct endowments exist — a student can sometimes be matched to more than one in the same cycle.
💡
Strategic Detail
These live inside LASSO (UT's internal scholarship platform) rather than on the main scholarships page — they don't show up until after admission and login. Families who don't log into LASSO and search miss them entirely.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students with documented financial need and solid academic progress at UT. Donor criteria vary widely; the consistent winners complete FAFSA early and update MyStatus with full first-gen background.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Dean of Students Leadership & Service Scholarships
📅 Deadline: UT scholarship cycle Non-Renewable
$1,000–$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Dean of Students awards stack with UT institutional aid and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance. Because they reward involvement, students often layer them on top of academic awards.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Dean of Students office or LASSO; most funds ask for a résumé of leadership roles plus a short statement. Some require a faculty or staff recommendation.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The most common parent question is 'where do leadership scholarships live at UT?' — and the answer is mostly here, scattered across the Dean of Students umbrella. LASSO surfaces them after admission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with sustained leadership or service roles — student government, major orgs, recognized initiatives. One-time volunteering won't move the needle. Reviewers look for two-plus years of involvement and a clear arc of growing responsibility.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ISSS / Texas Global International Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Texas Global deadlines (varies) Non-Renewable
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Because international students aren't eligible for federal aid, these awards layer with any private outside scholarships and any departmental funding. Stack potential is limited by UT's overall cost-of-attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Texas Global's ISSS scholarship portal; submit financial documentation, current academic standing, and a statement of need.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
International families often assume there's no UT aid for them — these are the awards that disprove that, though they're modest. The bigger value is signaling to ISSS that the student is on the radar for emergency funds too.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing international undergraduates with documented need and good academic standing. The pool is small and most awards go to students at the boundary between affording UT and dropping below full-time.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Moody College of Communication Endowments
📅 Deadline: Varies (post-enrollment, typically spring) ✓ Renews
$1,000–$10,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Moody endowments stack with UT-wide aid and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance. Because they're college-specific, they often layer cleanly on top of need-based packages.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Moody College's internal scholarship system after admission to the college; most funds use a single application that matches students to multiple donor awards.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Some of the most generous college-specific dollars at UT live in Moody — but they're invisible until after enrollment. New Moody students should plan to apply in their first spring, not wait until later years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Communication majors whose focus aligns with donor themes — journalism, advertising, public relations, public service media. Strong writing samples and clear career direction matter more than raw GPA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Cockrell School of Engineering Endowments
📅 Deadline: Varies (post-enrollment, typically spring) ✓ Renews
$1,000–$10,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cockrell endowments stack with UT-wide aid up to cost of attendance. Engineering majors often see these layer with departmental scholarships within their specific discipline (ECE, ME, ChemE, etc.).
📄
How to Apply
Submit Cockrell's single internal scholarship application after admission to the school; one application matches students to many donor-specific awards across engineering disciplines.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Cockrell's internal scholarship app is one of the highest-leverage single forms at UT — one submission, dozens of potential awards. Direct-admit engineering students should fill it out in their first spring, not wait.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Engineering students with strong academic performance and a clear technical focus area. Donors often target specific disciplines, so students who clarify their major path early appear in more pools.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College of Natural Sciences Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies (post-enrollment, typically spring) ✓ Renews
$1,000–$15,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CNS scholarships stack with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance. Research-tied awards sometimes include a stipend separate from the scholarship — this can be a real additional income stream.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through CNS's scholarship portal after admission; some awards require additional applications for research components or specific programs.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CNS has some of the most generous departmental awards on campus — especially for students engaged in undergraduate research. The top of the band (around $15,000) usually goes to research-active juniors and seniors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
STEM students who pair strong coursework with research interest or faculty engagement. The largest awards typically go to students who've already started lab work or shown clear research direction.
Data last verified Jun 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is LASSO and when can we get in?
LASSO stands for Longhorn Awards and Student Scholarship Opportunities. It is UT’s internal scholarship system. Your student gets access after admission and enrollment steps are underway. Nearly every award in this section flows through it, either directly or through a college portal linked from it.
Which deadline is which? I keep seeing March 1 and March 15. March 1 is the Texas Exes scholarship application, which is run by the alumni association. March 15 is UT’s own Continuing and Transfer Scholarship Application. They are different organizations with different money. Your student should do both.
My student is not a music major. Can they still get Longhorn Band money?
Yes, and this is one of the most overlooked awards on campus. The Butler School supports band participants from any major with named endowed funds. Placement in the band comes first through audition, then the band office considers active members for endowments. GPA requirements vary by fund.
What is First Abroad and why is it worth flagging?
A flat $3,000 for first-generation students going on a UT-approved study abroad program. It sits inside Texas Global rather than the main scholarship system, so almost nobody finds it. It also stacks with aid that already travels with your student, which surprises families who assume study abroad means paying twice.
Is there really UT money for international students?
Yes, though modest. International undergraduates are shut out of federal aid entirely, but Texas Global and ISSS administer need-based awards typically in the $1,000 to $5,000 range. Getting on the ISSS radar also matters for emergency funding later.
Which college has the most generous department money?
It varies year to year, but Cockrell, Moody, and the College of Natural Sciences all run single applications that match students to many donor awards at once, with top awards running past $10,000. CNS research-tied awards reach the $15,000 range and usually go to students already working in a lab. Filling out your college’s application in the first spring rather than waiting until junior year is the highest-leverage thing your student can do.
Where do leadership scholarships live at UT?
Mostly under the Dean of Students umbrella, scattered across several funds. Reviewers want two or more years of escalating responsibility, not a list of clubs joined senior year.
UT Austin does not have a single Honors College. It has roughly fifteen separate honors programs, each run by a different college or school, each with its own application, its own essay prompts, and its own admission committee. A student admitted to Plan II has nothing to do with a student admitted to Turing Scholars. When someone says “UT Honors,” ask which one.
🔒 The rule that costs families the most: honors is locked to your major selections.
Turing Scholars requires Computer Science.
Canfield Business Honors requires Business as first choice.
Texas CSB requires both Computer Science and Business, one first and one second.
Texas Robotics requires one of five specific majors as first choice.
Civics Honors and Great Books Honors are major selections themselves, not add-ons.
If the honors application does not appear for your student, it is almost always because the major selections do not permit it. Fixing that means emailing UT admissions and waiting three to five business days for approval, which is not something you want to discover on December 9.
Honors application opens: August 1, alongside the UT application
Honors application deadline: December 10 (ten days after the general application deadline)
Honors decisions released: March 1
Not available for: summer or spring freshman enrollment
Two ways to apply: indicate interest directly on the admission application and answer the program’s short-answer prompts, or use the separate online honors application in MyStatus after submitting. Either route works.
Honors Programs & Associated Scholarships
App Required
Plan II Honors
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Mar 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Plan II by itself is a program, not a scholarship — but admission unlocks the separate Plan II Incoming Scholarships pool, plus Dedman Distinguished Scholars consideration for in-state students.
📄
How to Apply
Apply by selecting Plan II as a major on the UT admission application by Dec 1; Plan II prompts and essays are part of the application. Decisions typically released by Mar 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Plan II is the academic crown jewel at UT for non-STEM students — and admission, even without aid, opens doors to the most generous honors scholarships. Students can apply to both Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors, but can only enroll in one.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with elite academic rigor and standout writing — Plan II reviewers look for analytical depth in essays, not just stats. Many admits have published writing, debate experience, or research portfolios.
Automatic
Plan II Honors — Incoming Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 (Plan II application) · 📢 Results: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Plan II incoming scholarships stack with UT institutional aid and outside awards up to cost of attendance. Top Plan II admits may be referred to Dedman Distinguished Scholars consideration, which is a separate tier entirely.
💡
Strategic Detail
The scholarship tier is internal to Plan II — students don't apply separately, but the size of the award varies widely by year and cohort. Treat this as a 'Plan II admission + maybe' outcome, not a guarantee.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Plan II admits with the strongest academic profiles or demonstrated need within the cohort. The award is a recognition layer on top of Plan II admission — not every Plan II student receives one.
App Required
Liberal Arts Honors (LAH)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Mar 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
LAH admission unlocks consideration for Dedman Distinguished Scholars (for in-state students) and continuing LAH scholarships starting sophomore year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply by Dec 1 — select LAH on the UT admission application and complete LAH-specific essays. Decisions released by Mar 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
LAH is less famous than Plan II but covers a much broader set of liberal arts majors. Students who don't want Plan II's interdisciplinary breadth often find LAH a better fit for a specific humanities or social sciences focus.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong writers headed for liberal arts majors who can articulate intellectual direction — LAH cares about fit with the seminar model. Stats matter, but voice in essays matters more.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Liberal Arts Honors — Continuing Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Spring (varies) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Continuing LAH scholarships stack with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance. They often layer with Dedman Distinguished Scholars funding for students in both programs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through LAH's internal scholarship process during sophomore through senior years — current LAH or Humanities Honors enrollment plus solid academic standing required.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
This tier doesn't help with the incoming-freshman decision — it kicks in after the student is already in LAH. Worth noting in a four-year financial plan, but not actionable for new admits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing honors students with strong academic standing and clear progress in the program. Reviewers want evidence the student is using LAH — seminar engagement, faculty relationships, research direction.
Full RideApp Required
Dedman Distinguished Scholars
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Spring ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full cost of attendance plus enrichment funding (research, study abroad, internship support)
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Dedman covers the full cost of attendance, so additional UT or outside awards typically can't add to the total. The enrichment funding for research and study abroad is the layer most families miss when comparing offers.
📄
How to Apply
Selected from in-state freshmen admitted to Plan II Honors or Liberal Arts Honors — apply to those programs by Dec 1; nomination and finalist review run through LAH/Plan II.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The closest thing UT has to a full-ride for Texas humanities students. Smaller and less famous than Forty Acres, but functionally the same value — and Plan II/LAH admission is the prerequisite, so this isn't a parallel application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top in-state Plan II or LAH admits with exceptional academics, sustained leadership, and a clear story of community impact. The cohort is small — single digits per year.
App Required
Canfield Business Honors (CBHP)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Mar 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBHP admission is academic — direct scholarship value varies by year. Strong CBHP students often layer department-specific McCombs endowments on top of any honors-tied funding.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to McCombs as Unspecified Business with CBHP honors prompts on the UT application by Dec 1 — CBHP admission is part of McCombs holistic review.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
CBHP isn't primarily a scholarship — it's a cohort honors program with a tight curriculum. The financial value tends to come from the network, the internship pipeline, and McCombs department awards layered on top.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with top academics, demonstrated leadership, and clear business or analytical focus. CBHP is one of the most selective honors business programs in the country — fit and direction matter as much as stats.
App Required
Engineering Honors (EHP)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Mar 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
EHP admission opens consideration for Cockrell departmental scholarships and named research awards. The honors track also positions students well for the Engineering Research Scholarship and other late-year competitive funds.
📄
How to Apply
Indicate EHP interest on the UT admission application by Dec 1; some engineering majors include EHP review automatically, others may require an honors prompt or supplemental short answer.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
EHP is more of an academic enrichment layer than a guaranteed scholarship — but EHP students consistently land more of Cockrell's discretionary funding. Worth applying for the access alone.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top engineering admits with strong rigor, research interest, and résumé signal (competitions, hackathons, advanced coursework). EHP reviewers want students who'll push beyond standard engineering curriculum.
Automatic
Dean's Scholars Honors Scholarships (CNS)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 (Dean's Scholars application via UT) · 📢 Results: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Dean's Scholars stipends stack with UT institutional aid and CNS departmental scholarships up to cost of attendance. The honors program also unlocks research opportunities that come with their own stipends — these are often separate from the scholarship line.
💡
Strategic Detail
Dean's Scholars is one of the strongest STEM honors programs at any U.S. public — and the partial-tuition scholarship is layered on top of research access. CS students who get in often pair this with Turing Scholars consideration.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Dean's Scholars admits with top-tier STEM academics and research potential. The program selects for students who'll engage with faculty-led research early, not just earn high grades.
App Required
Turing Scholars (Computer Science Honors)
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Turing admission itself carries no guaranteed dollar figure, but Turing students are consistently first in line for College of Natural Sciences departmental awards and paid research placements. Those layer on top of any UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List Computer Science as a major on the UT admission application and complete the Turing Scholars honors application by the Dec 10 honors deadline. Requires a writing prompt on activities and achievements relevant to computer science, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The most sought-after honors program at UT and the one families ask about by name. Turing is gated behind selecting Computer Science as a major, so a student who applies to UT undecided cannot be considered. Admission to Turing is decided separately from admission to UT and separately from admission to CS.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with deep, demonstrated computing work: competitive programming, meaningful personal projects, research, or advanced coursework well past AP Computer Science. This is one of the most selective undergraduate CS programs in the country and the essay needs technical substance, not enthusiasm.
App Required
Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB)
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
CSB students sit in two colleges, which means they can be matched to both CNS and McCombs donor scholarships. That dual eligibility is the quiet financial advantage of the program and it stacks with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List both Computer Science and Business on the UT admission application, one as first choice and one as second, and complete the Texas CSB honors application by Dec 10. Requires a 500-word writing prompt, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Among the hardest admits at UT. CSB requires listing both majors correctly on the application, and students who list only one cannot be considered. Changing major selections later requires emailing admissions and waiting three to five business days, so this needs to be right the first time.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who can articulate a genuine reason for pairing computing with business rather than treating CSB as a back door into CS. Reviewers look for evidence in the high school record: startup work, product building, quantitative competitions, or business coursework alongside strong math.
App Required
Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB)
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Like CSB, ECB students hold standing in two colleges and can be matched to both Cockrell and McCombs endowments. Those awards layer with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business on the UT admission application, one as first choice and one as second, and complete the Texas ECB honors application by Dec 10. Requires a 500-word writing prompt, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The engineering counterpart to Texas CSB and just as tightly gated by major selection. Cockrell also runs a separate Electrical and Computer Engineering Honors track for students who want ECE without the business dual degree.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with hardware or systems experience (robotics, embedded work, engineering competitions) who can make a credible case for the business half. The program is small and reviewers weed out applicants who clearly want engineering alone.
App Required
Moody College Honors
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Moody Honors students are positioned early for the college's donor endowments, which are among the more generous college-specific funds at UT and run up past $10,000. Those stack with UT-wide aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List any Moody College of Communication major as your first choice on the UT admission application and complete the Moody Honors application by Dec 10. Requires a 250-word writing prompt on a communication discipline.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The shortest writing prompt of any UT honors program at 250 words, and one of the least-crowded applicant pools relative to the money behind Moody. Requires Moody as first-choice major.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with real communication output: school paper, podcast, film work, campaign or PR experience. The prompt asks for an argued position about a communication discipline, so reviewers can tell quickly who has actually worked in the field.
App Required
Health Science Scholars (CNS Honors)
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Health Science Scholars share the CNS honors scholarship pool with Dean's Scholars and Polymathic Scholars, and many of those awards carry research stipends separate from the scholarship line. Everything stacks with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List any College of Natural Sciences major on the UT admission application and complete the Natural Sciences honors application by Dec 10, naming Health Science Scholars as your program of fit. Requires a writing prompt, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
One of three CNS honors tracks. Families often assume Dean's Scholars is the only one worth applying to, but Health Science Scholars is the better fit for a pre-health student and the applicant pools are judged separately.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pre-health students with clinical or research exposure who can explain why a cohort honors structure fits them. The CNS prompt asks applicants to pick one of three programs and justify the fit, so a generic pre-med essay reads poorly here.
App Required
Polymathic Scholars (CNS Honors)
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Polymathic Scholars draw from the same CNS honors scholarship pool as Dean's Scholars and Health Science Scholars, and the self-designed thesis track often opens faculty research funding on top.
📄
How to Apply
List any College of Natural Sciences major on the UT admission application and complete the Natural Sciences honors application by Dec 10, naming Polymathic Scholars as your program of fit. Requires a writing prompt, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The least-known of the three CNS honors programs and often the most winnable for a strong science student whose profile is broad rather than narrowly specialized.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Science students with a genuine second intellectual life, whether that is philosophy, policy, art, or languages. Polymathic rewards students who want to build a custom field of study rather than follow a standard major track.
App Required
Civics Honors
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program-tied awards stack with UT institutional aid and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance. Because the program is newer, the applicant pool is smaller than comparably sized honors programs at UT.
📄
How to Apply
List Civics Honors as one of your major selections on the UT admission application and follow the program instructions by the Dec 10 honors deadline. A letter of recommendation and resume are highly recommended but not required.
💡
Strategic Detail
Civics Honors is a major selection, not a checkbox, which trips up applicants who expect to add it later. No required essay beyond the program instructions, making it one of the lower-effort honors applications at UT.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students headed for law, policy, government, or public service who can show sustained engagement: debate, model UN, campaign or legislative work, civic writing. Reviewers are building small seminar cohorts and weigh fit heavily.
App Required
Great Books Honors
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program awards stack with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance. Great Books students in the College of Liberal Arts may also be routed toward Dedman Distinguished Scholars consideration alongside Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors admits.
📄
How to Apply
List Great Books Honors as one of your major selections on the UT admission application and follow the program instructions by the Dec 10 honors deadline. A letter of recommendation and resume are highly recommended but not required.
💡
Strategic Detail
Like Civics Honors, this is a major selection rather than an add-on. It is the closest thing UT offers to a great-books college inside a large public research university.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Serious readers. Students who can point to books they chose to read outside a syllabus and say something interesting about them. The cohort is small and the seminar format means fit matters more than raw statistics.
App Required
Texas Robotics Honors
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Texas Robotics students sit inside their home college for scholarship purposes, so Cockrell or CNS endowments apply normally. Lab placements frequently carry their own stipends separate from any scholarship.
📄
How to Apply
List Aerospace Engineering, Computational Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science as your first-choice major and complete the Texas Robotics honors application by Dec 10. Requires a 500-word writing prompt.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Restricted to five specific first-choice majors. A student who lists Computer Science second rather than first is locked out, which is the most common avoidable mistake with this program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with hands-on build history: FIRST or VEX competition, autonomous vehicle work, drone or embedded projects. The prompt asks what impact the student wants to make in robotics, and vague answers do not survive.
App Required
Cockrell-McCombs B.S./M.S. Honors Program
📅 Deadline: Dec 10 (honors application) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The integrated structure shortens time to a master's degree, which is a real cost saving that most families never price out. Undergraduate scholarships apply normally and stack with UT institutional aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
List Mechanical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering as your major on the UT admission application and complete the Cockrell-McCombs honors application by Dec 10. Requires a 500-word writing prompt on why the engineering and business combination fits your career goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Restricted to two majors only. The financial value here is structural rather than a scholarship line: finishing a master's in less total time at UT rates is worth more than most merit awards on this page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Mechanical or petroleum engineering applicants with a clear commercial or leadership orientation. Reviewers want a specific career picture, not a general interest in business.
Data last verified Sep 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Most UT honors programs are academic admissions rather than scholarship awards. The financial value usually arrives indirectly, through priority standing in the college’s donor scholarship pool, research stipends, and honors housing. Two exceptions carry real money directly: Dedman Distinguished Scholars covers full cost of attendance, and Dean’s Scholars carries a partial-tuition award.*
Which honors program should we target?
Humanities and social sciences: Plan II is the marquee name, but Liberal Arts Honors covers a much broader set of majors and is a better fit for a student with one clear discipline. Both feed Dedman consideration.
Computer science: Turing Scholars first. Texas CSB if there is a genuine business interest, since listing both majors also widens the scholarship pool.
Engineering: Engineering Honors requires no extra essay at all, just checking the box. There is no reason for a Cockrell applicant to skip it.
Natural sciences: Three separate tracks. Dean’s Scholars for research-driven students, Health Science Scholars for pre-health, Polymathic Scholars for students with a serious second intellectual interest. They are judged separately, so pick the one that actually fits.
Business: Canfield is one of the most selective undergraduate business honors programs in the country. Applicants to McCombs targeting Forty Acres are advised to apply to Canfield as well.
Honors — FAQs (UT Austin)
If my student is not admitted to honors, are they still admitted to UT?
Yes. UT states plainly that the Office of Admissions makes admission decisions separately from honors programs. A denial from Turing or Plan II has no bearing on the UT decision.
Can my student apply to more than one honors program?
Yes, within the constraints of their major selections. A student can apply to both Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors, for example, but can only enroll in one.
Does honors admission come with a scholarship?
Usually not directly. Most UT honors programs are academic admissions. The exceptions worth naming are Dedman Distinguished Scholars, which covers everything, Plan II incoming scholarships, and the Dean’s Scholars award. Everywhere else, the money comes from the college’s donor pool where honors students have an advantage.
What actually is Dedman?
UT’s quietest full ride. It covers tuition, housing, books, and education-related expenses for a handful of students each year, selected from Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors admits. Recent incoming cohorts have run four to six students. Because it is drawn from those two programs, there is no parallel application: getting into Plan II or LAH is the prerequisite.
When do we hear back?
March 1 for honors decisions, two weeks after general admission decisions on February 15. That gap is intentional and it makes the May 1 commit window tight if you are waiting on an honors offer to decide.
Are honors courses just more work?
They are usually smaller and more discussion-driven rather than heavier. The bigger practical benefits are faculty access, priority registration at most programs, and research placement, which is what eventually leads to the department money in the section above.
UT Austin is Texas’s flagship public research university, and it is genuinely one of the strongest public universities in the country across an unusually wide range of fields. What makes it different from most large publics is that several individual programs are not just good for a state school, they lead their categories nationally.
Nationally Known Program: Accounting at the McCombs School of Business has been ranked at or near the top in the country for years running, with an integrated five-year Master in Professional Accounting that feeds directly into Big Four recruiting. If your student is even considering accounting, this is one of the few programs where attending a public university carries no penalty at all.
Computer Science: Consistently a top-ten department nationally, and the reason UT admission has gotten dramatically harder in the last decade. Turing Scholars is the honors track. Note that CS admission is separate from UT admission, and automatic admission to the University does not carry into the major.
Petroleum Engineering: Perennially first in the nation. The Cockrell School’s energy programs sit in the middle of the industry geographically, which shows up in internships and starting salaries.
Jackson School of Geosciences: One of the largest and best-funded geoscience schools in the world, with its own endowment and its own calculus-readiness requirement. Families rarely have it on the radar and it is a serious opportunity for a student interested in earth science, climate, or energy.
Engineering broadly: Strong across aerospace, mechanical, chemical, and electrical and computer engineering, with an honors track that requires no extra essay.
Moody College of Communication: Journalism, advertising, public relations, and radio-television-film, with some of the more generous college-specific donor funding on campus.
Public Affairs and Policy: The LBJ School anchors a strong policy pipeline, and Austin being the state capital means legislative and agency internships are a short walk away.
Fine Arts and Music: The Butler School of Music supports performers across the university, including students who are not music majors, through endowed ensemble funding.
Nursing and Pre-Health: The School of Nursing plus Dell Medical School on campus gives pre-health students clinical exposure that most undergraduates have to go looking for.
Pre-Law: UT’s undergraduate feeder into law is strong, helped by the School of Law’s regional reputation and the concentration of government and legal work in Austin.
The practical takeaway for families:
At UT, the college your student enters matters more than at most schools. It determines their tuition rate, which honors programs they can apply to, which scholarship pool they land in, and how hard it will be to switch later. Internal transfer between colleges at UT is competitive and not guaranteed. Choose the first-choice major deliberately.
🔗 Official UT Austin Links
Use UT’s own pages below to confirm deadlines, costs, and award terms. Scholarship rules at UT change more often than at most schools, so verify against these before making any decision.
UT Austin is two completely different financial propositions depending on which side of the state line you live on. For a Texas family under the income ceiling, the Texas Advance Commitment covers tuition outright, the Legislature has frozen in-state rates through 2026-2027, and UT becomes one of the best values in American higher education. For an out-of-state family without a full ride, it is a genuinely expensive school with very little merit relief, and you should price it honestly against schools that publish an actual merit ladder.
Whichever side you are on, the UT playbook is the same and it is unusual. Get the major selections right on the first submission, because they gate every honors program and much of the scholarship money. Treat December 10 as the real deadline instead of December 1. Put January 15 in red on the calendar. And once your student is admitted, do not stop, because the awards that actually make UT affordable for a middle-income family are the four or five smaller ones stacked together, and every one of them lives behind a login your student has not been given yet.
The big full rides are worth an application, and the application is now free of charge because there is no separate form. But do not build the budget around them. Build it around the paperwork you control.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo writes CollegeReadyParent to help families cut through financial aid jargon and see what college actually costs before they commit. He digs through university pages, common data sets, and award terms so parents do not have to.
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