First-Time Freshman Admission

UTSA classifies the following students as first-time freshmen:

  • Those who have not attended a college or university since high school graduation
  • Those who have been dually enrolled in college and high school
  • Those who enroll in a Fall Semester after attending college during the summer immediately after high school graduation

Per state law, TEC 51.803-51.809, all first-time students are required to meet one of the following college readiness standards, in addition to current university and academic program requirements, in order to be eligible for consideration for admission:

  • Successfully completed the Distinguished, Advanced, Recommended, Foundation with an Endorsement, Foundation, or Minimum High School Program or complete the portion of the program that was available to them; or
  • Successfully completed a curriculum that is equivalent* in content and rigor to the Distinguished, Advanced, Recommended, Foundation with an Endorsement, Foundation, or Minimum High School Program at a high school that is exempt from offering such programs; or

  • Satisfied the College Readiness Benchmarks on the SAT or ACT assessment:

SAT - 480 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and 530 on Math (M) 

ACT - 18 English, 22 Reading, 22 Mathematics and 23 Science

*Equivalencies must be documented by the student’s high school using the appropriate High School Certification form. If needed, forms may be found on the UTSA website.

In consultation with the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has determined that the high schools are responsible for providing the appropriate documentation to confirm the curriculum requirements.

Texas public high schools are to provide the curriculum information on the transcript, also known as the Academic Achievement Record. This indication is to be available no later than the completion of the student’s junior academic year.

Private high schools can provide this information on the transcript, or by completing the appropriate form created for this purpose.

The above requirement may also be satisfied if the applicant’s official high school transcript or diploma states that the applicant completed the portion of the Minimum, Foundation, Recommended, Advanced or Distinguished curriculum or its equivalent that was available to the applicant, but was unable to complete the remainder of the curriculum solely because courses necessary to complete the remainder were unavailable to the applicant at the appropriate times in the applicant’s high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the applicant’s control. This is verified by the completion and submission of the appropriate form created for this purpose by the established deadline date for the application term.

Application Procedures

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. Applicants who do not meet the requirements may be reconsidered for admission upon submission of new, improved academic information (transcript, test scores, etc.).

Admission is conditional for students who have not yet graduated from high school. An official copy of the final high school transcript reflecting graduation date, final high school ranking (if applicable), curriculum information, STAAR or TSI scores for students from public Texas high schools must be provided to ensure enrollment, financial aid eligibility and registration for future semesters. In order for the transcript to be considered the official final transcript that verifies high school graduation, the student must have completed coursework from the school providing that transcript.

Admission Requirements

The following table shows the minimum total scores required, where applicable, for students meeting the first-time freshman curriculum requirement, based on high school numerical rank-in-class and either the SAT or the ACT.

High school class ranking is required for graduates of accredited public or private high schools. 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. It is recommended and encouraged to send a high school profile.

Guaranteed Freshman Admission Criteria
High School Rank in Class SAT ACT
Top 25% No minimum No minimum
Second 25% 1170 SAT 24 ACT
Holistic Review
High School Rank in Class SAT ACT
Second 25% 980 SAT or higher 19 ACT or higher
Third 25% 1080 SAT or higher 21 ACT or higher
Fourth 25% 1170 SAT or higher 24 ACT or higher
GED Students No minimum score, but scores must be submitted from the testing agency. No minimum score, but scores must be submitted from the testing agency.

First-Time Freshman applicants who are in the top 25 percent (first quartile) of their high school graduating class at an accredited high school and meet the first-time freshman curriculum requirements are admitted without minimum score requirements on the ACT or SAT; however, scores must be submitted from the testing agency to UTSA in order to complete the application process.

Admission by Holistic Review

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. Factors considered in the review process will include:

  • Achievement in academic or nonacademic endeavors

  • First-generation college student status

  • Extracurricular activities

  • Leadership

  • Community activities

  • Work experience

  • Socioeconomic background

  • Experience surmounting obstacles to pursue higher education

Applicants should take care to complete all required and optional portions of the application for admission, in order to convey information about these additional factors of admission by committee review.

Submission of the following documents is also recommended, but not required:

  1. Applicants are encouraged to submit at least one essay (Topic A from ApplyTexas or Writing supplement from CommonApp). 

  2. Up to two letters of recommendation, based on community involvement, high school academics or employment

All supporting material should include the student’s full name, high school and date of birth as it appears on the ApplyTexas application or CommonApp. The supporting materials should be mailed to: The University of Texas at San Antonio, Undergraduate Admissions Office, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249-0616.

General Educational Development (GED) Applicants

Applicants who did not graduate from an accredited high school but who have successfully passed all five subject tests and earned a GED® may be considered for admission to UTSA by satisfying the ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks or earning a minimum score of at least a 480 on ERW and 530 on Math on the SAT or the equivalent on the SAT.

Note: The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are: English=18, Math=22, Reading=22, Science=23.

Denial of Admission

If an applicant is denied after an initial review for not meeting admission requirements, the student will be encouraged to reapply after completion of a minimum of 30 transferable credit hours at an accredited college or university with a grade point average of at least a 2.25. Students who are denied pending 30 transfer credit hours are encouraged to take advantage of the transfer advising services offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, to use transfer guides found at the UTSA Transfer Admissions website to assist in course selection during the period of deferment, and to reapply to UTSA according to the procedures outlined in the “Transfer Student Admission” section.

LEAD Student Success

LEAD Student Success program is for first year students who start with UTSA 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 UTSA in the Fall. Once a student has been offered the program and has accepted the program, the student will be conditionally admitted to UTSA.

Students are offered LEAD based on UTSA's admission requirements. A student's overall status shows that they would benefit from participating in LEAD after a holistic review of their application. Once a student completes the Summer term, they will continue for Fall.

Alamo On-TRAC

Alamo On-TRAC (Transitioning Roadrunners at Alamo Colleges) is a program for first time freshman students who apply to UTSA but may not qualify for guaranteed or direct admission to UTSA. 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. In the Spring, students will be co-enrolled both at Alamo Colleges and UTSA.

Students are prescribed 24 hours of courses that must be taken at Alamo Colleges. Those include: ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302, MATH 1314 or MATH 1342 or required Math for intended major at UTSA, any 2 HIST 1301, HIST 1302, HIST 2301, GOVT 2305, GOVT 2306 and 3 hours of courses applicable to the UTSA core component area (as noted in DegreeWorks, Alamo Transfer Advising Guide, or other equivalent).

Students are prescribed 6 hours of courses that will be taken at UTSA. Those include: AIS 1203 and 3 hours of courses applicable to intended major or other core component area (as noted in DegreeWorks, Alamo Transfer Advising Guide, or other equivalent).

Students will be admissible to UTSA the following Fall semester without submitting another application. Alamo Colleges will automatically send transcripts to UTSA, and UTSA will automatically send transcripts to Alamo College (Reverse Transfer) upon successful completion of 66 hours. On-TRAC requirements are outlined on the UTSA website.

Alamo Runners

Alamo Runners is a collaborative, co-enrollment program. Students who were admitted to UTSA 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 UTSA and 12 hours at one of the Alamo Colleges until a minimum of 45 hours is reached to fully transition to UTSA. 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 meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester, meaning students must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher to complete the 3-hour course each term at UTSA.

Students must complete a Student Participation Form each semester they plan to attend and take the 3-hour course at UTSA. When the student is making the transition to UTSA, a final official transcript from the Alamo Colleges is required.

Coordinated Admission Program – The University of Texas at Austin

UTSA participates in the University of Texas at Austin’s Coordinated Admission Program (CAP). For complete information concerning the UT Austin’s Coordinated Admission Program, consult the University of Texas website.

CAP students who are eligible for CAP at UTSA and who designate UTSA as their partner school when submitting their CAP acceptance agreement to UT Austin will have their initial application forwarded to UTSA from UT Austin; they do not need to submit a second application to UTSA but will need to submit the $70 application fee to UTSA. Also, students who send AP and Dual Credit Scores/Grades to UT Austin must also request that this documentation be sent to UTSA for evaluation. 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. An official copy of the final high school transcript reflecting the student’s graduation date, final high school ranking, if applicable, and curriculum information must be requested to be sent to UTSA to ensure admission status, financial aid eligibility and registration for future semesters.

Early Admission of High School Students

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 UTSA courses while completing their high school studies. In special circumstances, high school students with sophomore or freshmen standing who meet the admission requirements outlined below may be considered for the program on an individual basis.

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 UTSA and the student’s school district. Such applicants should refer to the policy under the heading “Dual Credit Program Admission.”

First-Time Early Admission Criteria

SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math) ACT
No minimum No minimum
1170 SAT 24 ACT
(With no less than 480 on ERW and 530 on Math section) (With no less than 19 on the English section and 19 on the Math section)

Procedures

  1. Submit a UTSA Application for Admission to the Undergraduate Admissions Office on or before the application deadline for the requested semester of enrollment.

  2. Submit a nonrefundable application processing fee.

  3. Submit an official high school transcript.

  4. Submit a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor.

  5. Submit official SAT or ACT scores sent directly from the testing company.

Students applying for Early Admission through Special Admission Programs of the University, such as UPREP, will be required to follow the procedures approved for and by that program and will be reviewed according to the requirements established for the program. Information concerning these procedures and requirements are available from the UTSA coordinator for the program.

Continuing Student Early Admission Procedure

Early Admission students who choose to continue enrollment at UTSA following high school graduation must apply for admission according to regular policy and procedures. Students must meet the admissions requirements for First-time Freshmen for the term for which they will be applying.

Enrollment Procedures

  1. Early Admission student advising and course registration are coordinated by the Department of Instructional Outreach and take place following notification of admission.

  2. Advising and course registration for Special Admission Program students is the responsibility of and coordinated by the office managing the Special Admission Program.

  3. Early admission students are enrolled as non-degree-seeking.

Dual Credit Program Admission1

Dual Credit Program Admission is designed for high school students who want to simultaneously earn 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 UTSA and the student’s school district.

Dual Credit Program Admission is not intended for high school students who simply want to get an early start earning college credit. Such applicants should refer to the policy under the heading “Early Admission of High School Students.”

  • Applicants for Dual Credit Admission who already have earned college credit must have at least a cumulative grade point average of a 2.5 or above and be in good standing at the institution from which the dual credit is earned.

  • Dual credit work must be documented on an official transcript sent directly from the awarding institution.

Enrollment Requirements

  1. As required by the Texas Success Initiative, students must take an approved assessment test to determine readiness to enroll in college-level courses, unless otherwise exempted.

  2. Dually enrolled students are admitted as non-degree-seeking.

  3. Dually enrolled students who choose to continue enrollment at UTSA following high school graduation must apply for admission according to applicable admission policy and procedures.

  4. Minimum SAT or ACT admission score requirements must be consistent with regular UTSA policy for admission of high school graduates.

  5. 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 UTSA 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). Such restrictions will be documented and monitored by the imposing school district or office.

Procedures

  • Submission of the ApplyTexas application to the UTSA office managing the agreement with the school district on or before the application deadline for the requested semester of enrollment

  • Submission of the nonrefundable application fee unless otherwise waived or paid by a sponsoring grant program

  • Submission of an official high school transcript and official college transcript, if applicable

  • Submission of official ACT or SAT scores, if required by the program, sent directly to UTSA from the testing company

  • Dually enrolled students will receive academic advisement from the UTSA office managing the agreement with the school district

1

In accordance with Chapter 4 under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules (Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1). Rules Applying to All Public Institutions of Higher Education in Texas, Subchapter D, Dual Credit Partnership Between Secondary Schools and Texas Public Colleges.