Applying for the McCombs School of Business and Canfield Business Honors (CBHP)

Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers, taken in 2019

In this post, I overview the McCombs admissions statistics and application process, provide insights into the Canfield Business Honors program, and conclude with alternatives to McCombs. In another post, I cover the combined ECE and business (ECB) and CS and business (CSB) honors programs.

The easiest way to reach me is by email kevin@texadmissions.com and to complete this questionnaire for a free email admissions assessment and to discuss pricing and services.

McCombs School of Business admissions trends

For many years, UT-Austin’s McCombs School of Business received a relatively flat number of applicants, around 7,000 to 9,000 each year. However, like so many other competitive programs, COVID has experienced a significant increase in application numbers since COVID.

They’re also one of the only UT programs that have shared precise admissions data. A recent McCombs prospective information session shared concrete admitted and application statistics.

For Fall 2023: 11,433 applied, and they and admitted 1,625 for an enrollment class of 1,044. The admissions rate was 14%. The average SAT was 1450, and the average ACT was 32. The average admitted McCombs applicant ranked in the top 4.8% of their class.

Fall 2024 saw an 11% increase in applications, with 12,813 applying. The McCombs School of Business admitted 1,454 students for an enrolling freshman class of 924. The admissions rate was 11%.  The average SAT was 1470, with an average ACT of 33. The average rank increased by almost a percentage to the top 4%.

In Fall 2025, 16,500 applications were received for McCombs admission, and they likely admitted around 1,400 students, for an admissions rate of 8%.

How to apply to the McCombs School of Business

Students interested in applying to the McCombs School of Business must select it as their first-choice major on Apply Texas. All applicants apply as Business—Undeclared.

Enrolling McCombs students declare their major (like accounting, supply chain management, finance, etc.) after their freshman year. Students may have only one Business major and one minor. Double majors outside of the Business School can be pursued only after enrolling.

The Office of Admissions reviews all applications. The McCombs School of Business does not make decisions for regular admission. Still, you need to argue with specific examples why you deserve a space.

Reviewers, in particular, look for a demonstrated record of leadership activities in school and in your community. It is important that you expand upon any leadership activities in your resume and consider listing them at the very top under a dedicated leadership heading. Work experience and volunteering is also considered favorably. You should discuss your one or two most committed activities in your Leadership short answer.

If Calculus is available at your school, it is strongly encouraged you take it so you're ready to continue your math studies when you arrive on campus. If you have undertaken any independent study or certificates in personal finance, economics, statistics, programming, or entrepreneurship, discuss that in your Major short answer.

How does admissions work for Canfield Business Honors (CBHP)?

Applicants interested in BHP must select Business as their first choice. Honors reviewers will have access to everything that you submit on Apply Texas and upload on your My Status Page. They require an expanded resume and one recommendation letter. After submitting Apply Texas, you will also complete the brief Honors Application.

It is important to understand that BHP is both an honors program and a major meaning that there are many required courses throughout your four years at UT. BHP students are the only ones who can declare a double major within Business, for example BHP and a specific discipline like marketing or finance.

A common FAQ I want to address is that applying to honors in no way impacts or influences your regular admissions decision.

They are two totally separate processes: the Office of Admissions decides on regular admissions, while BHP reviewers select their applicants. Since BHP staff selects their applicants, they are very discerning about the types of students they seek and the kind of community they are building.

CBHP is a major where you take courses in most business disciplines. The classes are smaller, with 40-50 students, and are based on the MBA case-study format. Most CBHP students will double major in other business disciplines like finance, management, accounting, etc. CBHP also has dedicated extracurriculars, communities, and student recruitment events.

Admissions to CBHP is extraordinarily competitive. At minimum, you should rank in the top 5%, scoring at least a 32/1450 on the ACT/SAT. The typical admitted BHP student scores a 34/1484 on the ACT/SAT and ranks in the top 1.7% of their class. Many valedictorians and students with perfect exam scores will be denied. The admissions rate is probably around 10 to 15%, but the applicant pool is self selecting. The average CBHP applicant will be much stronger than regular McCombs admission applicants. The average admit will have five or six years of leadership experience with extensive relevant business experience, such as internships, independent projects, or DECA.

One big difference in their process is that CBHP no longer conducts phone interviews. I will wait and see what they do for Fall 2026 applicants. I’m not a fan of interviews and feel that they’re a waste of time, so I support CBHP’s decision not to conduct them anymore.

The CBHP essay

CBHP has changed their essay topic a few times in recent years, but the most recent one asked applicants to discuss teamwork and community with reference to one or two activities in your resume.

“Teamwork and community are pillars of the Canfield Business Honors Program. When reviewing your resume, is there a particular aspect that reflects these values? Tell us more about this experience and how you will bring these values to Canfield Business Honors.”

This question isn’t really different than the regular admissions supplement that asks you to discuss an activity you’re most proud of. The key thing to keep in mind is that CBHP will have access to your regular admissions essays, so it’s essential to discuss either a different activity from that which was mentioned in your regular essays, or to develop another angle in line with teamwork and community for an activity you’ve already discussed.

Here is an example of the recent question about Community:

During my freshman year, my friends and I assisted PB&Joy, an IB student-led club. Students bring peanut butter, jelly, and bread to prepare and deliver sandwiches to Dallas’s unhoused population. Mrs. Thompson is the club sponsor and the kindest, most compassionate teacher I’ve ever had.

PB&Joy became a social thing. Mrs. Thompson often said she felt grateful to spend time together on Fridays after school, and for my friends and me, it was like a transition into the weekend. Sophomore year, I spent more time making sandwiches, and Mrs. Thompson encouraged me to apply for the IB program. Junior year, I was one of 44 students among 1800 to join. I also loved having Mrs. Hunnicutt for Theory of Knowledge, which challenged my pre-existing beliefs while teaching me how to research. I appreciated how she never spoon-fed us the answers but taught us to think critically through the Socratic Method. 

I also became close with my SL Chemistry teacher, Mr. Elkins. Our class had only ten students, which freed up lab resources to find the coefficient of the hydrate in oxalic acid crystals. Instead of following predetermined, step-by-step experiments like sophomore chemistry, he gave us free rein to tinker and discover the results (or not). 

Finally, joining IB allowed me to deepen my commitment and serve as a leader at PB&Joy. I managed a table every week, onboarded younger students, and stayed after everyone else left to help Mrs. Thompson prepare for deliveries. Entering senior year, I’ve taken a more prominent role at PB&Joy. IB is my most important community at school because it provides a close-knit group in class and after school while having access to the resources of the wider school, not unlike BHP’s relationship with UT.

Alternatives to the McCombs School of Business

Finally, since business is so competitive, let’s discuss alternatives. Many applicants choose to seek admission to less selective yet related programs.

Moreover, many current McCombs students eventually change their major to something else because they find that business isn't a good fit for them. There are over 120 majors at UT, yet students often default to business because it seems like the easiest pathway to a stable career.

If you don't feel like you would be competitive for business or it doesn't match your interests, consider these programs:

UT McCombs previously offered a Business Foundations Program certificate but have since discontinued it and replaced it with a Business Minor open to any UT students.

They have a number of other certificate programs in global management, real estate, public policy, and so on that students from any major can pursue.

It also seems they have a Summer Institute for Business Foundations Program open to students from any university, so if you’re aiming for a transfer or want to take UT coursework, it’s worth considering.

Applicants may also be interested in earning certificates once they arrive on campus. Students from any major can pursue Applied Statistical Modeling or Scientific Computation and Data Sciences.

One of my favorite programs open to any UT student is the Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP). BDP allows students to combine coursework outside of their major with research and internships. I completed an International Studies BDP, and business-oriented students may be interested in the Ethics and Leadership in Business, Social Entrepreneurship, or Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Certificates.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about admissions to the McCombs School of Business. Are you interested in getting help with your UT-Austin application? The easiest way to reach me is by email kevin@texadmissions.com

Interested in maximizing your admissions chances?

Kevin MartinBusiness