Admit rate has ranged 72%–84% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of North Texas is a sprawling public research university in Denton, Texas, that operates less like a selective, cloistered campus and more like a dynamic, high-volume engine of upward mobility. It’s known for a massive, practical curriculum—offering over 100 bachelor’s degrees—and a student life defined by its sheer scale, with hundreds of clubs and a robust Greek scene. While its admissions are accessible, UNT is aggressively focused on improving student outcomes, aiming to dramatically boost graduation rates and leveraging significant financial aid to make college attainable for a broad swath of Texans.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
34,341
In-state tuition
$11,309
Out-of-state tuition
$21,149
No-Loan Policy
Not stated in sources
Graduation Rate
61%
Meets Full Need
Not stated in sources
ED Share of Class
Not stated in sources
First-Year Retention
Not stated in sources
Demonstrated Interest
Not stated in sources
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,010
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$57,010
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.6×
Median debt at graduation
$19,250
Graduation rate
61%
First-year retention
77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
55%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
35%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
30
Per 1,000 students
0.64
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
93°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
47.3"
Annual snow
2.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
463
Scholarly works
61,603
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
23%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Texas?
University of North Texas's acceptance rate is approximately 72% (Denton, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of North Texas?
Admitted students at University of North Texas typically score 980–1230 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of North Texas cost?
At University of North Texas, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,649 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of North Texas?
University of North Texas enrolls approximately 34,341 undergraduate students.
Where is University of North Texas located?
University of North Texas is located in Denton, TX.
Admissions
UNT’s admissions process is characterized by accessibility rather than extreme selectivity. The university accepts a significant majority of its applicants, with an of 72%. The middle 50% of admitted students who submit test scores have an SAT range between 980 and 1230, or an ACT composite between 20 and 26. For Texas residents, automatic admission is granted to students in the top 10% of their high school class with no minimum test score requirement; for others, a combination of class rank and standardized test scores is evaluated, with minimums as low as an SAT score of 950 or an ACT composite of 26 for some tiers. The university reports a rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—of around 24% to 40%, indicating that many students use UNT as one of several options. The is referenced for detailed admissions factors, but specific weightings for elements like demonstrated interest are not detailed in the provided sources.
Acceptance Rate: 72%
SAT Middle 50%: 980–1230
ACT Middle 50%: 20–26
Automatic Admission: Top 10% of Texas high school class
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$62,260
Insurance$60,230
Mechanical Engineering$58,866
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Scale and scope define the academic experience at UNT. As one of Texas's largest universities, it offers a vast menu of 114 bachelor’s degrees, 87 master’s degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees spread across 14 colleges. This breadth allows for significant hands-on experience within the curriculum. The most popular majors cluster in business, management, marketing, and related support services, as well as multi/interdisciplinary studies. The university promotes that several of its academic programs are ranked among the nation's top 100, though the specific programs are not enumerated in the provided sources. The College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and the College of Science (with departments like Physics and Biology) are highlighted as key components of the academic structure. The overall impression is of a comprehensive public university designed to serve a wide array of career and scholarly interests with practical, applied focus.
Life at UNT is big, busy, and designed for involvement. A major part of the experience for many is living on campus in one of the university’s 15 residence halls, each described as having its own personality and traditions. The social fabric is woven from over 450 student organizations, including 38 fraternities and sororities, providing ample avenues for making friends and building leadership skills. The campus culture is noted for being diverse and inclusive, where students from various backgrounds feel welcomed; references to pride flags and a nurturing environment underscore this commitment. The university actively promotes resources for career development, leadership opportunities, community engagement, and student well-being, framing the out-of-classroom experience as integral to belonging and success.
UNT is in the midst of a concerted, data-driven push to improve student outcomes, with graduation rates being a central metric. The university's strategic goals include raising its 4-year graduation rate from 42% to 65% and its 6-year graduation rate from 61% to 80% by 2030. Current reported figures vary: the College Scorecard shows a 64% graduation rate, while other sources cite a 6-year rate of about 60-61%. The median earnings for graduates ten years after entry is $57,010. Other data points show earnings one year after graduation at $42,036 and five years after at $57,374, highlighting a trajectory of increased earning potential. The university frames a bachelor's degree from UNT as a significant financial advantage, citing that median lifetime earnings are $1.2 million higher for degree holders.
Affordability is a major pillar of UNT's value proposition. The average after grants and scholarships is $15,649. The university awards a substantial $450 million in scholarships and financial aid annually, with 70% of UNT students receiving some form of assistance. Aid packages can range from $500 a semester to $34,000 a year. One prominent program is the North Texas Promise, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying first-time freshmen with demonstrated financial need for up to four years, effectively creating a tuition-free pathway for eligible Texas students. While the university offers significant grant aid, it also provides federal loans, including Direct Unsubsidized Loans available to undergraduates regardless of financial need. There is no indication in the provided sources of a universal "no-loan" policy that meets full need for all admitted students; aid appears to be a mix of grants, scholarships, and loans.
UNT stands out as a powerhouse of access and scale with a clear, improving trajectory. It’s not a small, boutique college, but a massive public university that embraces its role as an engine of opportunity. Its identity is built on a vast academic catalog offering real-world preparation, a vibrant and hyper-involved campus life with a strong residential component, and a serious institutional commitment to boosting graduation rates and career outcomes. The North Texas Promise program epitomizes this mission, putting a debt-free degree within reach for qualifying Texans. While its admissions are not highly restrictive, UNT distinguishes itself by focusing on what happens after students arrive: providing the resources, support, and financial scaffolding to help a large, diverse student body not just enroll, but persist, graduate, and thrive financially.
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