UT Dallas Admission Requirements for International Students 2027: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, Scholarships and Deadlines

UT Dallas admission requirements for international students are simple on paper: apply through the Common App or ApplyTexas, pay a $75 fee, send your secondary school transcripts and final exam results with certified translations, and prove your English with TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE, or through a waiver. The SAT and ACT are optional, and so are the essay, resume and recommendation letters, though I would send all three. For fall 2027, the priority deadline is 1 December 2026 and the regular deadline is 1 May 2027.

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) is more selective for international students than its headline numbers suggest. It admitted 69% of all first-year applicants for fall 2025, but only about 54% of international applicants. The prize for applying by the December priority date is the Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES), which UTD says can reach full tuition and also brings the Texas resident tuition rate. This guide covers the acceptance rate, 2026-27 costs, scholarships, English rules, deadlines and the steps after admission, checked on UTD’s own pages on 29 October 2026.

UT Dallas ranking

In the U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges edition, UTD is ranked #121 among National Universities and #58 among public universities. The U.S. News page itself could not be loaded for this guide; these figures come from UTD’s Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, which lists its U.S. News positions on its rankings page. The same 2027 edition places UTD’s undergraduate engineering at #78 and undergraduate computer science at #75 nationally.

UT Dallas acceptance rate and class profile

UTD’s Common Data Set for 2025-26 (fall 2025 entry) breaks admissions down by residency, which most universities do not do. That makes it possible to see the real odds for an international applicant.

Other figures from the same report:

• SAT middle 50%: 1170 to 1390, with 79% of enrolled students submitting an SAT score.
• ACT middle 50%: 24 to 32, with 12% submitting.
• Students: 23,007 undergraduates and 7,132 graduate students.
• Student to faculty ratio: 23 to 1.
• Plans: no Early Decision, no Early Action and no waitlist.
• Aid to international undergraduates: 311 nonresident undergraduates received UTD institutional aid in 2025-26, averaging $9,427 each.

International applicants are admitted less often than Texans, so a complete, early file matters. Only 103 of 2,056 admitted international students enrolled, about 5%. Most admits choose elsewhere, often because of cost, which is why the scholarship section below matters so much.

UT Dallas tuition for international students in 2026-27

UTD publishes a 2026-27 cost of attendance for non-Texas residents, the rate international students pay unless a scholarship changes it.

For comparison, Texas residents pay $14,644 in tuition and fees for 2026-27. That gap, about $25,500 a year, is what the AES in-state rate benefit is worth on its own. UTD also charges international students separate fees not shown here, such as an international credential evaluation fee and the UT System student health insurance premium, which you can waive only with comparable cover.

UT Dallas scholarships for international students

UTD does not give need-based grants to international students. Its merit awards are where the money is.

Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES)

• How you apply: your complete admission application is your AES application. There is no separate form.
• Deadline: a complete file by 1 December 2026 for fall 2027. Spring applicants are not reviewed automatically.
• Who is reviewed: first-time freshmen starting in fall straight after high school. UTD’s AES pages do not exclude international students, and its Common Data Set shows nonresident undergraduates receiving institutional aid, but UTD does not publish a separate statement on international eligibility. Ask aes@utdallas.edu if you want written confirmation.
• Value: UTD does not publish fixed tiers. It says award amounts vary with each class and “sometimes up to or exceeding full tuition”.
• Extra benefit: AES recipients at any level are charged in-state tuition and fees, whatever their residency.
• What it covers: tuition and mandatory designated tuition fees. It does not cover international student fees, health insurance, course fees or housing.
• Length and renewal: up to eight semesters. You must keep a 3.0 GPA each semester and cumulatively, enroll full-time (12 hours) every fall and spring, and stay on pace to graduate in four years. Awards cannot be upgraded after the first year.
• Acceptance: you must accept your AES by 1 June, with no exceptions.

Eugene McDermott Scholars Program

UTD’s most generous programme welcomes applicants “from all states and countries”, across all majors. About 20 students are chosen each year, and finalists are interviewed in spring. It has its own application and deadline, listed on the McDermott Scholars website.

Other freshman awards

The Top 10% Scholarship ($2,500 a semester) is for Texas residents only, and the Terry and National Merit programmes are tied to US foundations and the US National Merit competition. The Comet Scholars Program is need-based. For most international students, the AES and McDermott are the realistic options.

UT Dallas admission requirements for international students: the application

UTD reviews freshmen holistically. It looks at your grades and grade trends, the rigour of your courses (AP, IB, A-levels and similar), your class rank and GPA, and how ready you are for your intended major. A complete international file includes:

• Application: Common App or ApplyTexas, plus the $75 non-refundable fee. Common App users pay inside the application; ApplyTexas users pay through the UTD Marketplace.
• Transcripts: official records from ninth grade through at least the end of eleventh grade.
• Final exam results: official copies of national or school-leaving exams, such as GCE O-level and A-level results, WAEC or similar certificates and matriculation exams. UTD’s “Foreign Credentials for International Freshman Admission” PDF lists what it needs from each country.
• Translations: certified English translations of anything not issued in English.
• English proficiency: a test score or a waiver route (below).
• Optional but encouraged: an essay through the Common App, a resume, up to three recommendation letters, and SAT or ACT scores if you have them.

Testing policy

UTD treats the SAT or ACT as an optional supplement, “if available”. Scores must come directly from the testing agency and are valid for five years. Since 79% of enrolled students sent an SAT score, a strong score (1390 or above is the top quarter) will help, and an SAT reading and writing score of 560+ also waives the English test.

English requirements

Test scores must be less than two years old at admission. You do not need a test if any of these apply:

• US high school: three or more years at a US high school, with graduation.
• English-medium curriculum: three or more years at an IB, British-system, AP or comparable school where English was the only language of instruction.
• Country: you come from a country whose government language is English and your education was entirely in English (UTD links to a TOEFL-exempt country list).
• Test sections: SAT reading and writing 560+ or ACT English 21+.

UT Dallas deadlines for fall 2027

UTD’s catalog also urges international applicants to send everything at least six months before the start of term, so that the I-20, visa and health requirements can be finished in time. For a fall 2027 start, that points to February 2027 at the latest, even though 1 May is the official deadline.

How to write the UT Dallas essay and resume

UTD does not publish its own essay prompt; it reads the essay you submit through the Common App. Because the essay, resume and recommendations are optional, many applicants skip them. That is a mistake when AES is reviewed holistically and the committee has thousands of files that look alike on grades.

1. Pick a Common App prompt that shows how you think: a problem you solved, a challenge, an idea you followed up.
2. Make it point toward your major: UTD weighs readiness for your intended major, so a computer science applicant should show building or problem-solving, and a business applicant should show initiative.
3. Use the resume for the list: put competitions, jobs, leadership and certifications on the resume so the essay can tell one story.
4. Choose recommenders who know your work: a maths or science teacher for STEM majors; a teacher plus a supervisor if you have worked.

A sample opening, for illustration only: “The first program I ever wrote crashed every time our generator switched over, so my second program was a script that saved my work every thirty seconds.”

What happens after you apply to UT Dallas

1. Orion Applicant Center: you track missing documents in Galaxy, UTD’s student portal, and upload fee waivers or documents there.
2. Decision: priority-deadline files are reviewed first, along with the AES review.
3. AES offer: if selected, accept it by 1 June.
4. I-20: you send evidence of financial support for the costs not covered by your award.
5. Health requirements: a tuberculosis blood test (IGRA, done in the US within six months before classes start; skin tests are not accepted), a bacterial meningitis vaccine if you are under 22, and proof of health insurance or a waiver.
6. Orientation: F and J visa students must complete a mandatory orientation before they can register.
7. Texas Success Initiative: admitted students must meet Texas readiness rules before enrolling, which SAT or ACT scores can satisfy.

Common mistakes international applicants make with UT Dallas

• Missing 1 December: the single biggest money mistake. No AES review for late files.
• Skipping the optional items: an empty essay and resume give the AES committee nothing to judge beyond grades.
• Sending only the final certificate: UTD wants transcripts from ninth grade onward plus the national exam results.
• Waiting until May: the regular deadline is too late for a comfortable visa timeline in many countries.
• Not checking the English waiver properly: the country waiver also requires that your schooling was entirely in English.
• Forgetting the TB test: it must be done in the US, so plan for it on arrival.

Costs AES does not cover

• Housing and food: about $15,234 a year on campus.
• Books, transport and personal costs: about $5,198 a year on UTD’s estimate.
• Health insurance: required through the UT System plan unless waived.
• International and course fees: AES excludes international student fees, course fees, testing and orientation fees.
• Summer: AES can pay for summer only under its rules, and living costs continue.
• Travel and visa: flights, the SEVIS fee and the visa fee.

Majors, campus and city

UTD sits in Richardson, a suburb in the north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, one of the largest job markets in Texas. It is strongest in computer science, engineering, business and the sciences. The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Naveen Jindal School of Management are its two largest schools, and it also has programmes in the natural sciences, behavioural and brain sciences, economics, arts and humanities. Around 30,000 students study there in total.

Dallas offers a lower cost of living than the big coastal cities, a large international community and many technology, finance and health employers for internships. Summers are hot, and a car or the DART rail system is useful for getting around the wider metro area.

UT Dallas graduate admissions in brief

Graduate applications go through UTD’s graduate admissions office, which runs a separate international students page. English minimums, test requirements and deadlines vary by programme, and some schools offer departmental scholarships to new graduate students. Doctoral students are usually funded through assistantships; master’s students mostly pay their own way. Check the programme page and the graduate deadlines before applying.

UT Dallas compared with similar public universities

UT Dallas publishes a full residency breakdown of its admissions, and its AES is the only award here that also brings in-state tuition.

Who should apply to UT Dallas

Apply if you are a strong student in STEM or business, can submit a complete file by 1 December, and can cover around $60,600 a year, or much less if you win an AES with the in-state rate. UTD’s figure of 53.6% for international admits means you still need good grades, but the odds are far better than at highly selective private universities.

Look elsewhere if you need need-based aid or cannot apply by December. For need-based full funding, start with our list of the best American scholarships for international students. If you are weighing Texas options, compare our UT Austin admission guide and our guide to University of Houston scholarships.

FAQ on UT Dallas admission for international students

What is the UT Dallas acceptance rate for international students?

For fall 2025, UTD admitted 2,056 of 3,835 international first-year applicants, about 53.6%. The overall rate was 69.1%.

Does UT Dallas give scholarships to international students?

UTD reviews complete freshman files received by 1 December for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, which can reach full tuition and comes with in-state tuition rates. In 2025-26, 311 nonresident undergraduates received UTD aid averaging $9,427.

How much is UT Dallas tuition for international students?

For 2026-27, a non-Texas resident pays $40,164 in tuition and fees, and the full cost of attendance on campus is $60,596 before scholarships.

What IELTS score does UT Dallas require?

UTD requires IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Duolingo 105 or PTE 67, unless you qualify for a waiver through English-medium schooling, your country or your SAT or ACT scores.

For the full-time MBA, see our UT Dallas Jindal MBA guide.

Sources and updates

Deadlines, the $75 fee, application items and holistic review factors come from UTD’s freshman deadlines and fees and admission criteria pages. English minimums, waivers and document rules come from the international applicants page and the 2026 undergraduate catalog. AES terms come from UTD’s AES pages for prospective freshmen and current recipients; McDermott and other awards from the freshman scholarships page. The 2026-27 cost of attendance is from UTD’s affordability page. Admission figures and aid to nonresidents come from UTD’s 2025-26 Common Data Set. The U.S. News 2027 edition ranks come from the Jonsson School’s rankings page, because the U.S. News page could not be loaded. Checked on 29 October 2026; this guide will be updated when 2027-28 costs are published.

Jude Chinecherem

I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.