It is a huge public school with a relatively accessible admission rate, a published price that varies tremendously depending on where you come from, and graduation outcomes that tell a story in two time frames: one at four years and another, more complete one, at six. None of this makes it good or bad for your child. What it can do is help you understand what questions to ask before the admission letter takes you by surprise.
Let’s take it one piece at a time, because this university has pieces that truly matter.
What kind of university is it?
Let’s start with the basics. University of North Texas is a public institution offering programs of four years or more, located in Denton, Texas, within Denton County and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. That does not mean the campus is in the heart of that large city; it simply falls within that metropolitan area. If your child plans to live at home and commute every day, do not trust the map: drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time your child would have classes. The actual travel time is almost never what Google Maps promises.
The Carnegie system, which classifies the country’s universities according to what they do, places it among doctoral institutions with the highest research activity. It is a meaningful label: it says that research is conducted here at a significant level, although it does not tell you in which specific departments or how that affects the experience of an undergraduate student.
Carnegie also identifies it as a large and primarily nonresidential institution. That means that, according to the data used for that classification, either fewer than one in four undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing or fewer than half studied full time. The data do not clarify which of the two conditions was met, and they also do not mean that there are no residence halls—in fact, there are, as you will see later. What they do tell you clearly is that if your child will commute every day, you need to budget for the bus, gas, and hours on the road, not just tuition.
Another Carnegie finding: it is one of the institutions that receives many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying at another university or a community college, this is exactly the signal to request in writing, before enrolling, which courses will count and which will not. The label says that many transfer students arrive; it does not say how many credits they bring or how many are lost along the way.
As for special designations, University of North Texas is not listed as a historically Black college or university (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Not being on those three lists says nothing about which communities it serves or how your child will feel on that campus. Ask directly which cultural centers and student organizations exist today and, better yet, talk with someone who already studies there.
A university the size of a small city
Here we need to pause at a number that changes how everything else is read: University of North Texas reported 47,507 enrolled students in the official fall count. It is one of the largest schools among the selective public universities of this type included in this analysis; at most one in ten has more students.
But that large number contains something worth separating: 33,858 are undergraduates and 13,649 are graduate students. If your child is just starting a bachelor’s degree, the number that truly matters is 33,858, not the total of nearly 48 thousand. A substantial part of that enormous figure consists of people who have already completed a degree and are studying something more advanced.
Within that undergraduate community, 30 out of every 100 students were reported as Hispanic or Latino. That is one in four or more—in fact, nearly one in three—and compared with the other 519 selective public four-year schools reporting this data point, it falls in the top quarter. Put simply, being Latino on this campus would not be the exception.
But here is a truth I do not want to soften: a high percentage of Latino students is not the same as support for Latino students. The data count how many there are, not whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor or targeted tutoring, or whether those students actually graduate. And this is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific major that interests your child. Counting is not serving. Ask about that directly.
The rest of the student profile: the undergraduate population is almost evenly split between men and women, with 54 out of every 100 being women. Adult students, ages 25 to 64, are a minority: 13 out of every 100. And 90 out of every 100 first-time students reported a permanent Texas address when applying. By a very large majority, this is a university of in-state students.
How the academic year works and which prior credits it accepts
University of North Texas organizes the year by semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the standard calendar that most families already know.
The university stated that it accepts credit for AP exams and also what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, a portfolio, prior licenses or certifications, military, government, or professional opportunities, or an examination program. It also reports accepting credit for military training. And it enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is the warning that truly matters: saying that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. The data do not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before your child enrolls. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for its degree offerings, in a single year University of North Texas awarded 7,680 bachelor’s degrees across 26 families of academic programs. None accounts for a large share: the most popular was business and management, and even that represented only 19 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the quarter with the greatest variety of academic families represented. It is a broad offering. But 26 families appearing in the report do not mean 26 guaranteed majors with active students: one family groups several programs, and a row may report no degrees for that year. Verify the exact program that interests your child.
A technical number worth translating: the student-faculty ratio is 23 to 1, using full-time equivalents. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the highest quarter. But be careful: this is not class size. It is an institutional average relating students to full-time-equivalent instructional staff. It does not tell you whether your child’s introductory class will have 300 people or 20. You need to request that information separately.
Academic pathways the university reports offering
Beyond its majors, University of North Texas reports offering several structured pathways: study-abroad programs, teacher-certification preparation below the graduate level, and state approval of its program for initial teacher certification. If your child is interested in teaching or spending a period studying abroad, these are the doors through which to begin asking questions.
Admission: selective on paper, accessible in practice
Here we come to one of the areas that causes families the most anxiety, so let’s take it slowly and use the exact numbers.
University of North Texas stated that it does not have open admission: it reviews specific components before saying yes. Of the nine possible considerations that IPEDS asks about—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—it marked four as required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory course plan the university requires, and an English-proficiency exam when applicable. Beyond those, only one additional consideration is used if submitted: the student’s high school class rank.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, this is important: ask now whether the English-proficiency exam applies and what would qualify your child for an exemption. This is one of those things families discover late, making everything more complicated.
The published undergraduate application fee is $75.
Now, the question many families really want answered: how difficult is it to get in? In the 2023 cycle, University of North Texas received 36,807 first-time applications and offered admission to 26,671. That is 72 out of every 100. Compared with the other 519 selective public schools, it falls on the less selective side—seven out of ten of those schools accepted an even larger share—but in practical terms, it is an accessible university. At the same time, more than 10 thousand applicants did not receive an offer that year. It is a large school that receives many applications and still says yes most of the time. Your child has a genuine reason to apply and also a genuine reason to submit a complete application on time.
An honest note: that 72 out of every 100 comes from a single cycle, not a fixed rule of the institution. If there are many more applicants without more available places in the year your child applies, the figure will fall on its own. When the time comes, check the updated number again.
Here is a data point that many families overlook and that is worth understanding clearly: out of every 100 students admitted to the first-year class of 2023, only 26 ultimately enrolled. The other 74 had acceptance letters in hand and decided to go elsewhere. Receiving a yes is not the same as deciding to attend. This percentage does not measure quality, prestige, or satisfaction; it only counts how many admitted first-time students ultimately enrolled that fall. When your child’s letters arrive, this number should not decide for you: place the letters side by side and compare net price, the specific major, and distance before the deposit deadline.
Regarding standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application proceeds in the same way. Among the students who enrolled, 43 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores—a high proportion compared with similar schools. Among them, the middle half scored between 500 and 630 in reading and writing and between 480 and 600 in mathematics. Be careful: these ranges describe students who had already enrolled and submitted scores, not all applicants, and they do not prove that the score was decisive in any admission decision. That 500 is not a minimum, and that 630 does not guarantee anything either.
Transfers: a great deal of movement in both directions
University of North Texas receives a great many transfer students: 3,720 undergraduate students entered in the fall of 2023 after previously studying at another institution. That is a large number.
But we also need to look at those who leave. Of the cohort that entered in 2017 as first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students, 31 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing their degree here, within 150% of normal time. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is on the high side: seven out of ten of those schools saw a smaller share of their students leave.
This is a consequential fact that almost no one anticipates: a student who transfers does not appear as a University of North Texas graduate, even if that student successfully completes a degree at another university. It is crucial to keep this in mind when comparing graduation rates among schools later in this article. And the fact that many students transfer does not mean that they did poorly here; the report counts the movement, not the reason or final outcome.
The price: two very different numbers depending on where you come from
At University of North Texas, among 1,286 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $10,816. Among 722 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $13,489; among 713 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $21,829. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (1,286 students) and the highest-income band (713 students) is $11,013. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $14,675.
$10,816 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.
Financial aid and loans: who receives what
At University of North Texas, 64 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—a grant or scholarship. That is more than half, though not everyone. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the quarter where grants and scholarships reach fewer students. Among those who received them, the annual average was $8,453.
Separately, 36 out of every 100 students received Pell Grants, the federal aid directed toward families with demonstrated financial need.
Here is an extremely valuable clarification: the percentage of students who receive aid and the average amount they receive are two different calculations with different denominators. Do not multiply them together. When your child’s letter arrives, separate it by hand into three piles: what does not have to be repaid, what must be repaid with interest, and what must be earned through work. Many letters mix everything into a single column to make the offer appear more generous.
Regarding loans, 39 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan in the 2022-23 year. Those who borrowed took on an average of $9,376 from that year alone. Compared with similar schools, this proportion falls in the middle of the pack.
A hard truth needs to be stated plainly: that percentage describes other families, not yours. It does not include Parent PLUS loans signed by parents or debt from banks or credit cards, and it is also not the total debt with which a student leaves upon graduation—that would require adding several years, and that number is not available here. What your child would need to borrow depends on your child’s own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
The university also reports specific mechanisms for managing payment: a guaranteed-tuition plan, an installment-payment plan, and participation in a Promise-type program. It is worth asking the financial aid office directly about each one.
Campus life, learning format, and support
University of North Texas has its own housing, with a reported maximum capacity of 6,419 students, on or off campus. Not all first-time students are required to live there—the institution responded that there is no universal requirement—although that does not rule out such a requirement for a specific program. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by the plan selected. The availability of rooms does not guarantee a bed for your child: request in writing the rate for the year, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or there is a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC, the university reports opportunities in two branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked. The fact that an opportunity is reported does not mean the program is necessarily taught on this specific campus; ask about it by name before building your child’s plan around it.
In athletics, University of North Texas competes in the NCAA. It reports membership for football, basketball, and cross-country or track and field, among other sports. If your child is interested in athletics, the membership belongs to the school and is not a guarantee for your child: write directly to the coach of the specific sport and ask whether there is space, which division the team competes in, and whether that sport offers scholarships.
Regarding distance education, the university offers it at the undergraduate and graduate levels, although only 9 out of every 100 undergraduate students were taking all their classes remotely in the most recent count. The great majority, 91 out of every 100, were taking at least one in-person class. The university also reports having at least one complete program that can be completed entirely through distance education, although that does not confirm that it is specifically available at the undergraduate level: confirm the exact level and program if this is important to your family.
The library operates with paid staff, has physical and digital materials, and offers interlibrary lending. Its annual spending exceeds the government’s reporting threshold of $100,000, although that is only a minimum floor and does not guarantee that it has the specific databases required for your child’s major.
Finally, the university reports several support services: combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and service members, a student veterans’ organization, and a published web address for disability services. The fact that they are reported does not say how effective they are or how students who use them feel; ask about that directly and, better yet, verify it with current students.
Do they stay? Do they graduate? The persistence numbers
This is perhaps the section most worth reading slowly, because this is where the “four years” many families have in mind collides with the reality of the data.
Of the cohort of full-time students who entered in the fall of 2022, 77 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. This is the official retention measure, and it places the university slightly above the midpoint among similar schools. Part-time students from that same cohort had a different outcome: 55 out of every 100. These are two different groups with different circumstances; do not cross those numbers as though they were comparable.
Now for graduation. Of the students who entered in 2017 as a first-time, full-time cohort, 60 out of every 100 graduated here within six years. But within four years—the time frame most families have in their budgets—the figure was 43 out of every 100. There is a difference of 17 points between the two time frames.
It is worth looking at the complete breakdown for that cohort of 4,699 students: 2,799 graduated here within the time limit. 1,459 transferred to another institution without completing their degree at University of North Texas. 156 were still enrolled without having graduated yet. And 285 fell into the federal “no longer enrolled” category, which does not explain the reason and may include people who graduated after the measured time limit.
Compared with similar schools, this graduation rate is above the group median.
The 17-point gap between four and six years has a concrete message for your wallet: before signing, request in writing how long the specific program that interests your child usually takes, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the program takes one or two years longer than planned. A fifth year, when it happens, must also be paid for.
There is an even broader measure: tracking a cohort of 10,503 undergraduate students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016—combining full-time, part-time, first-time, and students with prior college experience—through the August 2023 reporting date, eight years later, 64 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 62 out of every 100, just three points below the group without Pell Grants.
IPEDS reports that 28 out of every 100 had not received a credential from this institution and appeared with some enrollment status elsewhere, although an inconsistency in how that data point is measured prevents stating precisely how many were still enrolled as of the reporting date. And 8 out of every 100—exactly 878 people—had an unknown enrollment status: the report simply could not determine what happened to them. Unknown does not mean that they stopped studying; it only means that the system lost track of them.
Compared with similar schools, this eight-year rate is also above the median.
What these numbers cannot tell you
Everything you have just read comes from official reports that University of North Texas submits to the federal government, primarily through IPEDS, as well as from Carnegie. These are aggregated institutional data: they describe the entire school, not your child, not the exact major that interests your child, and not the year in which your child will apply. No average, graduation rate, or admission rate predicts what will happen to a particular student.
This article also cannot tell you anything about what happens after graduation—earnings, employment, or the debt with which a student leaves. That information is not authorized in the sources used here, and any promise about it would be invented.
You now know in detail one of the pieces you need to make a decision: what kind of university University of North Texas is, how large it is, how much it costs depending on where you come from, how selective it actually is, and what its own numbers say about who stays and who graduates.
Put that together with what your child wants to study and what your child has already built in high school. This university is neither the answer nor the complete question. It is a real piece, with real numbers, that you can now put on the table when your child sits down with the family to decide.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from data reported by University of North Texas to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The figures correspond to different years and cohorts, as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent University of North Texas or any government agency; this article is intended to help families understand public data.