Navigating UTSA Admissions: Understanding SAT and ACT Score Requirements
For prospective students considering the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), understanding the admission requirements, especially concerning standardized test scores, is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of UTSA's admission policies, focusing on SAT and ACT scores, GPA expectations, and other factors that influence the admission decision.
UTSA's Acceptance Rate: A General Overview
The acceptance rate at UTSA is 86.8%, suggesting that the university is lightly selective. This means that a significant portion of applicants are admitted, provided they meet the expected academic standards. While the acceptance rate offers a general idea of the competition, it's essential to delve deeper into the specific requirements for GPA and standardized test scores. It is important to note that last year The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) acceptance rate was 77.95. As you can see, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is getting more and more difficult to get into.
GPA Requirements for UTSA
The average GPA at UTSA is 3.37, indicating that the university accepts below-average students. UTSA might be a good fit if you're a B-average student, with some A's mixed in.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) average GPA is 3.41. This average GPA means The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is very selective.
SAT/ACT Score Policy: Test-Flexible Approach
UTSA hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores, it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UTSA will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.
Read also: UTSA Student Population
Please Note: SAT or ACT test scores are not required for admission, but are considered if submitted. Neither score is preferred more than the other. Submit your SAT or ACT test scores directly from the testing agency.
UT San Antonio’s code for ACT is 4239.
Understanding the SAT Score Range
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1010, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1210. This means that the school wants you to contact them to learn more about their Score Choice policies. In other words, a 1010 places you below average, while a 1210 will move you up to above average.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)'s average SAT score is 1025 - this is the sum of the math and reading portions of the SAT (the 1600 scale). To be a competitive applicant for The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) your SAT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 920, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted.
Decoding the ACT Score Range
The average ACT score at UTSA is 23. The 25th percentile ACT score is 19, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 25. Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 19 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.
Read also: Comprehensive UTSA Guide
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)’s average ACT score is 65. To be a competitive applicant for The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) your ACT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 57, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted.
The Optional Essay Section
Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. UTSA considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.
Holistic Review and Other Factors
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances.
If your class rank and test scores don't meet the minimums for automatic admission, it is highly recommended you submit an essay from the Texas application as well as two letters of recommendation for committee review.
Read also: Navigating UTSA Student Services
Meeting the stated scores for Holistic Review does not guarantee admission.
If you are to be considered for admission through holistic review, two letters of recommendations are highly encouraged.
Class Rank
High school class ranking is required for graduates of accredited public or private high schools. Faxed, scanned or photocopied transcripts will not be accepted or acknowledged.
For applicants whose high school transcript does not present a ranking, Undergraduate Admissions will assign a ranking based on coursework and grades. Home school students will be assigned a rank in accordance with the requirements of Texas Education Code 51.9241(d) and are subject to general admission requirements. Applicants ranking in the second, third, or fourth quartile with the required minimum SAT or ACT score and applicants from a home school or unaccredited high school will be considered for admission through Holistic Review.
Transcripts
An ApplyTexas application or Common Application, nonrefundable application processing fee, current official high school transcript, and an official copy of the SAT or ACT score (sent directly from the testing service) should be sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Applicants for admission as first-time freshmen who are attending high school at the time of application and who meet the curriculum and admission requirements may be admitted during their senior year pending receipt and review of the final high school transcript.
Freshman applicants still in high school can submit their academic record through the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) instead of an official high school transcript. For students who meet STARS exceptions, an official high school or GED transcript is required. STARS is encouraged for faster processing as a tool that allows applicants to self-report their courses, grades, class rank, and other academic information.
Official transcripts must be sent from the electronic delivery service or institution. The transcript must list all courses undertaken at each grade level, grade earned, credits earned, cumulative GPA and a graduation date. If an applicant's high school does not rank students, the applicant can include a copy of the school’s profile and a GPA or grade distribution report. UT San Antonio will assign a high school graduating class rank to these applicants.
All transcripts and documents must be received by the admission deadline (not postmarked) for your application to be processed. Applicants whose files are not completed by the final deadline will not be considered for admission to UT San Antonio for the semester to which they applied.
Application Process
There are two ways to apply to UT San Antonio: ApplyTexas and Common App. Pick one! Please do not submit an application on both platforms. An Admission decision cannot be processed until your admission file is complete (i.e. Certain majors have additional requirements to be admitted directly into the academic program. Review our major pages to see if there are any additional requirements.
Submit an application either through ApplyTexas or Common App. Please submit only one application per term. Create an account on ApplyTexas. You will be assigned a login and password. Edit and complete your ApplyTexas Profile and screener questions. Your responses help determine which application type(s) you should use. Once you have completed your core questions, search for “University of Texas at San Antonio” using the school search function. Answer all school-required questions specific to UT San Antonio and the essay.
Create an account on Common App for “First Year Students”. You will create your log-in and password. Once your account is created, go to the “My Colleges” tab, click “add a college” and search for “The University of Texas at San Antonio. Start a new application to UT San Antonio by clicking the “Start/Edit Application” button and “Start a New Application”. Complete and submit your application by going back to the “My Colleges” tab, selecting “The University of Texas at San Antonio,” and then clicking to fill out the Application starting with Questions, then Recommenders and FERPA and Review and Submit Common App.
Application Fee and Waivers
The application fee for UT San Antonio is $75. You can pay your fee when applying or after you submit your application through the myUTSA Admissions portal. Once logged in, find your application under “My Admission Applications.” Click on the orange “Pay Application Fee” button. Select your payment method and follow the instructions. Once you’ve made your payment, be sure to select the “Return to myUTSA Admissions” button to return to the portal.
If you prefer to pay via check or money order, you can make it out to “The University of Texas at San Antonio”. Please include applicant’s full name and date of birth so the payment matches the correct application. Eligible freshmen applicants who demonstrate financial need can submit an application fee waiver to cover the application fee. A submission does not mean your fees are waived. You must first be eligible and submit the correct documentation to support your request. UT San Antonio’s Office of Undergraduate Admission will review your request. If your fee waiver request is denied, you will be required to pay the application fee.
Checking Admission Status
You will be issued your “myUTSA ID” once we receive your admission application. Your myUTSA ID must be activated and a passphrase created by the applicant before they will be able to access any UT San Antonio systems. Once you have your myUTSA ID, you can log into your myUTSA Admissions portal to check your admission status. Once logged in, you will find your application under “My Admission Applications” section. There you’ll be able to review your admissions status. If you click on the orange “Review Details & Checklist” at the bottom of the tile, you can see if you’re missing any application items.
Appeals
Applicants for admission and admitted students have the right to appeal decisions of the Undergraduate Admissions Office. The appeal must be received by the appeal deadline for the term of the application. Students requesting an appeal must do so by submitting the Appeal for Undergraduate Admission form and any other requested documents as outlined on the form.
Maximizing Your Chances of Admission
Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average. Aim for a 1010 SAT or a 19 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission.
Now you know where you need to be for getting into The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) from a grade and test score perspective. Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting into UTSA. Join your school band, a sports team or another group activity. Volunteer in your hometown. San Antonio has tons of ways to be involved beyond just the college. Spend your summer doing something that speaks to your values, personal growth, leadership qualities and other less quantifiable characteristics. UTSA needs to see past your test scores and grades - they need to know that you will be a valuable and contributing member of their community. Write a stellar essay that shows The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) something they can’t figure out from the other parts of your application. Get teacher recs that speak to your character. Apply Before the Deadline. Too many students wait until the last minute to submit their application, and too much can go wrong during this precious time window. Since many students are applying on the last day, it’s possible that UTSA’s own system crashes.
Additional Opportunities and Programs
Honors College
Freshmen will be automatically considered for Honors College eligibility based on their admission application to UT San Antonio. While there is no required test score, GPA or class rank, the average honors freshman is in the top 8% and has a 1300 SAT or 28 ACT.
You can apply to the Honors College at any time but must apply by February 15th to be considered for the scholarship competition, which you can learn about here.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
To be considered for merit scholarships, you must apply and submit the General Scholarship Application by December 1st. With your myUTSA ID and passphrase, you can now access the UT San Antonio Scholarship HUB, which is a single-source platform for students to find various scholarship opportunities available to apply to, including the Scholarship Hub’s General Application. The general application will instantly put you in the pool of scholarships that are managed by the UT San Antonio Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Also, don’t forget Financial Aid! Even if you don’t think you will qualify for federal aid, we recommend all students submit a FAFSA. If you are not a US citizen, but eligible for Texas aid, submit the TASFA. Both FAFSA/TASFA are free, fairly quick to complete, and can help factor into additional items like grants and scholarship opportunities.
January 15 is the deadline for our Distinguished Presidential Scholarship (DPS). Fall freshman applicants who apply and get admitted to UT San Antonio by January 15 will be given automatic consideration for this scholarship valued at up to $24,000 for up to four years if renewal eligibility is maintained. Don’t miss out!
Special Admission Programs
LEAD Student Success program is for first year students who start with UT San Antonio in the summer and is a conditional admission program. Students are chosen to participate in LEAD and will take two courses in the Summer term before starting at UT San Antonio in the Fall. Students are offered LEAD based on UT San Antonio's admission requirements. A student's overall status shows that they would benefit from participating in LEAD after a holistic review of their application.
Alamo On-TRAC (Transitioning Roadrunners at Alamo Colleges) is a program for first time freshman students who apply to UT San Antonio but may not qualify for guaranteed or direct admission to UT San Antonio. A student cannot apply directly to On-TRAC but offered admission into the On-TRAC program. Students who accept the program offer will begin at one of the Alamo Colleges in the Fall semester. Students are prescribed 24 hours of courses that must be taken at Alamo Colleges. Students are prescribed 6 hours of courses that will be taken at UT San Antonio. Students will be admissible to UT San Antonio the following Fall semester without submitting another application. Alamo Colleges will automatically send transcripts to UT San Antonio, and UT San Antonio will automatically send transcripts to Alamo College (Reverse Transfer) upon successful completion of 66 hours.
Alamo Runners is a collaborative, co-enrollment program. Students who were admitted to UT San Antonio during a Fall or Spring semester but instead enrolled at one of the five Alamo Colleges are offered the opportunity to take 3 hours at UT San Antonio and 12 hours at one of the Alamo Colleges until a minimum of 45 hours is reached to fully transition to UT San Antonio. Students do not have to reapply but must complete a minimum of 45 transferable hours at Alamo Colleges. Students can participate in the Reverse Transfer program. Students must complete a Student Participation Form each semester they plan to attend and take the 3-hour course at UT San Antonio.
UT San Antonio participates in the University of Texas at Austin’s Coordinated Admission Program (CAP). CAP students who are eligible for CAP at UT San Antonio and who designate UT San Antonio as their partner school when submitting their CAP acceptance agreement to UT Austin will have their initial application forwarded to UT San Antonio from UT Austin; they do not need to submit a second application to UT San Antonio but will need to submit the $70 application fee to UT San Antonio. Also, students who send AP and Dual Credit Scores/Grades to UT Austin must also request that this documentation be sent to UT San Antonio for evaluation.
Early Admission Program
The admission decision is often made prior to high school graduation; therefore, admission is conditional for students who have not yet graduated from high school. High school students who have junior or senior class standing or are applying to a Special Admission Program may be admitted under the Early Admission Program and enroll in UT San Antonio courses while completing their high school studies. This policy is designed to address the needs of individual high school students who want to start earning college credit while in high school.
Early Admission is not intended for students who want to earn simultaneous credit toward high school graduation and a university degree, or for students who enroll as part of a group of students under the terms of an agreement between UT San Antonio and the student’s school district. Early Admission students who choose to continue enrollment at UT San Antonio following high school graduation must apply for admission according to regular policy and procedures.
Dual Credit Program
Dual Credit Program Admission is not intended for high school students who simply want to get an early start earning college credit. Applicants who do not meet regular admission requirements and who apply as part of a group of students under the terms of an agreement between UT San Antonio and the student’s school district may be admitted with restrictions addressed in the agreement or at the discretion of the Department of Instructional Outreach and the appropriate faculty (selected by the academic departments).
Specific Major Requirements
At UT San Antonio, we want you to be as prepared for your major as possible so some programs will have additional requirements. If you do not meet the stated requirements initially but meet the institution’s general admission requirements, then you will be admitted into the UT San Antonio University College in an “academic studies” program based upon the major you applied for.
Business Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.B.A. Academic Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.B.A. Business Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.B.A. Business Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.B.A. Business Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.S. Equity and Education students and Interdisciplinary Studies students (B.A. degrees) with a teacher certification concentration declare their concentration at the time they are an incoming freshman/transfer student. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) . Have completed 12-15 hours of content coursework. Demonstrate English Language Proficiency by earning a “C+” or higher in a public speaking course (WRC 1013, WRC 1023 COM 1043, COM 1053, COM 2113. Complete the teacher candidate interview screening.
Architecture and Construction Planning Studies students will be evaluated for admission into the B.S. Architecture and Construction Planning Studies Students will be evaluated for admission into the B.S. No specific criteria to move to intended major.
All applicants for admission to the Athletic Training concentration will be initially admitted into the Kinesiology program without a concentration. All applicants for admission to the Exercise Physiology concentration will be initially admitted into the Kinesiology program without a concentration. All applicants for admission to the Kinesiology and Health Science concentration will be initially admitted into the Kinesiology program without a concentration. No specific criteria to move to intended major.
Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) . Have completed 12-15 hours of content coursework. Demonstrate English Language Proficiency by earning a “C+” or higher in a public speaking course (WRC 1013, WRC 1023 COM 1043, COM 1053, , COM 2113. Complete the teacher candidate interview screening. Admission into the major as part of a cohort group occurs in the Fall Semester. Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C-” or better. Transfer students must meet all the above criteria and meet all the UT San Antonio undergraduate admission requirements. All applicants will be initially admitted into the Nutrition and Health program without a concentration.
Students interested in changing their major to Multidisciplinary Studies- Online must request this change through their currently assigned academic advisor and complete the Change of Campus Form.
Alternatives to Traditional Admission Requirements
In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1543 (SB1543), applicants for admission who present evidence of obtaining a non-traditional secondary education, such as homeschooling or earning a GED, will have a high school graduating class rank assigned by UT San Antonio.
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