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UT Dallas Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to UT Dallas’ culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location:

Dallas, TX

Type:

Public Research Institution

Acceptance Rate:

76%

Population:

29,500 (21,000 undergrads)

Jump to Section:

About

Statistics
Rankings

Admissions

Dates + Deadlines
Statistics
Strategy

Academics

Schools +Colleges
Core Requirements
Special Programs

Student Life

Housing
Campus + Area
Student Orgs + Athletics

Financials

Cost
Financial Aid
Scholarships

About UT Dallas

Founded to provide a base of well educated citizens in the Dallas area, the University of Texas Dallas remains a prominent research school. While its undergraduate program is not as strong as its sister school in Austin, it still boasts a good academic tradition, and a broad research base. With some of the top chess and debate teams in the country, and a forward looking vision, UT Dallas remains dedicated to academic excellence.

Photo Courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas Statistics

Year Founded

1961

4 Year Graduation Rate:

48%

Gender Distribution

57% male / 43% female

Acceptance Rate:

76%

Residency:
Location Type:

Urban

Schedule System:

Semesters

Student / Faculty Ratio:

24:1

Average Class Size:

40

Demographics:

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National Rankings

US News Rankings:

  • #56 Top Performers in Social Mobility
  • #68 Top Public Schools
  • #75 Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs
  • #147 National Universities
  • #147 Best Value Schools

Independent Rankings:

  • #13 Top Entrepreneurship Undergraduate Programs per The Princeton Review
  • #19 Top Game Design Undergrad Programs per The Princeton Review
  • #31 Best Value Colleges per Forbes
  • #79 Public Colleges per Forbes
  • #125 Research Universities per Forbes
  • #240 National Universities per Forbes
  • #311 National Universities per The Times of Higher Education

UT Dallas Admissions

Application Deadlines:
Notifcation Dates:
Priority:

Dec. 1

Priority:

Rolling Basis

Regular Decision:

May 1

Regular Decision:

Rolling Basis

Transfer:

July 1

Transfer:

Rolling Basis

Acceptance Rates:

  • Priority: 76%
  • Regular Decision: 76%
  • Transfer: 80%

Average Applicant Pool: 11,80

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 9,000

Average Number Enrolled: 3,200

Application Systems: Apply Texas

Average GPA (weighted):

3.83

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1250, 75th% – 1450

ACT Scores: 25th% – 26, 75th% – 33

*Test mandatory. Writing sections required.

Demonstrated Interest:

UT Dallas considers demonstrated interest in admissions decisions.

How to Demonstrate Interest

Recommendation Letter Policies:

Letters of recommendation are suggested, though not required. Students are limited to a three letter maximum.

UT Dallas Essay Prompts:

  • All essays are optional, though it is recommended that students submit one.
  • Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
  • Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
  • You’ve got a ticket in your hand –Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

UT Dallas Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

  • Students who graduate in the top 10% of their class from an accredited Texas high school are automatically admitted to UT Dallas.
  • Students applying to the Jindal School of Management must have a minimum ACT score of 23, or a minimum SAT of 1130.
 

UT Dallas Academics

Score of 3-5

Required to earn credit for AP tests

140+

Degree programs

8

Schools within the university

Schools:

Core Requirements:

  • All students are required to take 42 credit-hours of required courses in the following areas: Communications (6 credit hours), Mathematics (3 credit hours), Life & Physical Sciences (6 credit hours), Language, Philosophy, & Culture (3 credit hours), Creative Arts (3 credit hours), American History (6 credit hours), Government/Political Science (6 credit hours), Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours), and Component Area Option (6 credit hours).
  • Comprehensive Requirement Information

Majors:

Minors: 

AP Credit Policies:

Photo Courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas

Special Programs

Honors Programs:

  • The Hobson Withenthal Honors College offers students 12 different programs, and includes financial aid, seminar courses, special events, and advising for high-achieving students. The honors programs have separate applications, and must be applied to individually.
  • Graduation Honors, including Latin Honors, are awarded based on cumulative GPA.
  • Academic Honors Society

The Naveen Jindal School of Management offers 9 different degrees.

Research Availability:

Study Abroad: 

Business Options: 

Pre-Med Options:

Pre-Law Options:

Additional Specialty Programs: 

Photo Courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas

Student Life at UT Dallas

D3

Athletics

4%

of students participate in Greek life

25%

of students live on campus

School Motto: Education, The Guardian of Society

Mission and Values:

  • Mission: The University of Texas at Dallas provides the State of Texas and the nation with excellent, innovative education and research. The University is committed to graduating well-rounded citizens whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world; to continually improving educational and research programs in the arts and sciences, engineering, and management; and to assisting the commercialization of intellectual capital generated by students, staff, and faculty.
  • Additional Information
  • Student Testimonials (Niche, Unigo, Grad Reports)

The campus’ architecture is very modernist, and there are over 6,000 trees and many green spaces on the campus.

Residential Housing System:

UT Dallas has five residence halls which offer a more traditional residency experience, and 67 apartment buildings, with over a thousand individual units housing 1-3 students apiece. Many students also choose to live off campus, and there are many resources available for commuter students. There are also living-learning communities for students with similar interests located in one of the residence halls.

Housing Statistics:

48%

of freshmen live on campus.

25%

of students live on campus overall.

Campus & Surrounding Area:  

  • The main campus is located in Richardson, 18 miles North of downtown Dallas, although the campus extends South into Dallas county.
  • The campus’ architecture is very modernist, and there are over 6,000 trees and many green spaces on the campus.
  • Points of interest on campus and in the area include the Crow Museum of Art, an Urban Forest project, and the sights of Richardson.
  • Safety Information (UT Dallas, College Factual)

Transportation:

Traditions:

  • OozeballAn annual mud volleyball tournament held to raise money for charity.
  • HomecomingA big deal at UT Dallas, with a parade, floats, and other celebrations.
  • SpringapaloozaA weeklong celebration to welcome students back to campus after spring break.
  • Holiday SingThe oldest tradition on campus, featuring performances from student groups, music, and food.

Student-Run Organizations: 

Sports:

Greek Life: 

  • Only 4% of the student body is involved in greek life, though they are widely visible at campus sponsored events.

Nightlife:

  • UT Dallas is not generally regarded as a party school, and there is not much nightlife on or around campus, beyond a few frat or apartment parties.
  • For students who want to explore nightlife off-campus, there are options in Richardson and downtown Dallas.

UT Dallas Financials

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

  • Total: $29,286/53,128
  • Tuition: $13,034 (for Texas residents)/$36,836 (out of state)
  • Room & Board: $11,532
  • Books: $1,200
  • Personal Expenses: $3,520
  • Note: The cost of tuition can vary by college and year.

Financial Aid:

UT Dallas has some need based financial aid available. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply. Most aid gifts also include work-study jobs on campus.

Additional Financial Aid & Student Loan Information

Scholarships: 

Scholarships are available based on merit or other criteria. Some specific scholarships are offered by individual departments, while others are campus-wide. Students should also check the scholarship listing for a full listing of scholarships offered by the university.

UT Dallas Fun Facts

  • The chess team is internationally ranked, and considered one of the best in the US, with 24 Grand Masters and International Masters playing for the team from 1996-2018.
  • The debate team has made 16 consecutive appearances at the National Debate Tournament, which is invitational to the top 78 teams in the country.
  • When the school was initially founded, it was open to PhD and Masters students only.
  • The school only started allowing incoming Freshmen in 1990.
  • UTD’s eSports team won the first ever Super Smash Bros. Ultimate collegiate competition in 2019.
  • UT Dallas was always forward-looking, to the point where it didn’t start archiving documents until the 2000s. As a result, much of the history of their early years is unknown or speculative.

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