UT Austin Spring Start Program

Source: https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/alternative-pathways-to-enrollment/ssp/ Parent: https://admissions.utexas.edu/

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UT Austin Spring Start Program

The UT Austin Spring Start Program is a new pilot program launching in Fall 2026, created in partnership with Austin Community College to provide a supported, one‑semester pathway to Spring admission at UT Austin.  

The University of Texas at Austin is pleased to offer a select group of applicants conditional admission to begin as a Longhorn in Spring 2027 through the UT Austin Spring Start Program (SSP). Your Spring admission is contingent upon successfully completing academic and enrollment requirements during Fall 2026 at Austin Community College (ACC). 

How To Participate

You cannot apply to the Spring Start Program. Students are selected and offered SSP after applying for freshman admission to UT Austin. 

To participate in SSP, you must: 

• Submit the SSP Student Agreement by the stated deadline

• Enroll at Austin Community College (ACC) for Fall 2026

• Complete all Spring Start academic requirements on a strict timeline

If students do not submit the SSP agreement by the deadline, you are declining this conditional admission pathway. Students can find the deadline from their offer email.  

Spring Start Requirements

To activate your Spring 2027 admission, you must complete all of the following requirements by the end of Fall 2026. 

Complete 15 Hours of Transferable Coursework

• Enroll in and complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of transferable coursework at Austin Community College during Fall 2026 only.

• All coursework must be fully transferable to UT Austin

• Developmental education and workforce courses do not count

• Dual credit, concurrent enrollment, and transferred credit by exam courses do not count toward the required 15 hours

• All credit must be awarded during Fall 2026 at ACC

• Courses taken outside ACC, outside Fall 2026, or that are not transferable will jeopardize your conditional admission

• Each course must be completed with a grade of C or better

• Verify course transferability using the UT Austin Automated Transfer Equivalency (ATE) system

Earn At Least a 3.2 Semester GPA

• Earn a minimum 3.2 GPA on all coursework completed at ACC during Fall 2026

• All coursework attempted during the term, including repeats, will be included in the SSP GPA calculation

Mid-Semester Progress Report

Austin Community College will send a mid‑semester credit‑hour report by November 1 to UT Austin to confirm enrollment and academic progress.

Final Official Transcript Submission

• ACC will submit your final official transcript after the Fall 2026 semester ends

• UT Austin must receive your transcript before the start of the Spring 2027 semester

Program Completion

Key Dates and Checkpoints

• Enroll at ACC and complete 15 transferable credit hours

Fall 2026 - Mid‑semester credit‑hour report sent to UT Austin

November 1 - Students contacted to select majors

Mid-November - Final grades posted and official transcript submitted

End of Fall 2026 - Begin coursework at UT Austin (if all SSP requirements are met)

Spring 2027

Majors and Colleges

Students participating in SSP will be contacted by mid‑November to select majors based on the criteria below:

Guaranteed Admission (Minimum 3.2 GPA)

College of Liberal Arts**Guaranteed admission to most Liberal Arts majors except**: 

• Environmental Science (EVS)
• Plan II Honors
• Humanities
• Undeclared

Limited space available (3.5 GPA recommended):

• Psychology
• Economics

College of Education**Guaranteed admission to all Education majors except Kinesiology.** (Kinesiology is not eligible for spring admission.) 

School of Social Work**Guaranteed admission to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)** program 

Important GPA Notes

• A 3.2 GPA qualifies students for guaranteed majors in Liberal Arts, Education and Social Work

• Admission to specific majors is subject to availability

Competing for Other Majors

Upon successful completion of SSP, students will be admitted to the College of Liberal Arts for Spring 2027. Admission to specific Liberal Arts majors is not guaranteed. 

Students may also compete for admission to majors outside the College of Liberal Arts, except for colleges or schools that do not participate in Spring admission. 

Conditions of Conditional Admission

By participating in SSP, you acknowledge and agree that: 

• Your Spring 2027 admission is conditional upon meeting all Spring Start requirements

• Any deviation from program requirements without approval from UT Austin Admissions may result in revocation of conditional admission

• ACC may have its own enrollment requirements

• Placement exams or Texas Success Initiative (TSI) readiness may be required during the summer or orientation

• You agree to the reverse transfer process and authorize UT Austin to share academic records with ACC for degree awarding

• You authorize UT Austin to share your admissions information, including your full application, with ACC, and authorize ACC to share academic records with UT Austin

• You must submit a final high school transcript that meets Texas high school graduation requirements to Austin Community College prior to the start of fall classes

• Failure to submit the SSP agreement by the stated deadline constitutes declining this pathway, even if you choose to attend ACC independently

Is Spring Start Right for Me?

The Spring Start Program is designed for students who: 

• Are prepared to begin college at Austin Community College for one semester

• Can meet strict academic and enrollment requirements on a defined timeline

• Understand that access to some majors and colleges is limited or competitive

• Want a structured pathway to begin at UT Austin in the Spring semester

Students offered SSP may also have other pathway options available and are encouraged to consider which option best supports their academic and personal goals. 

Questions?

UT Austin Office of Admissions

Phone: 512-475-7399

Email: admissions@austin.utexas.edu