Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began more than century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’s oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA provides the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. 

Nestled within a pine tree sanctuary, the main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through our six gardens. With the inclusion of the off-campus Todd Agricultural Research Center, DeWitt School of Nursing Complex and aviation program hangars, SFA is spread across 1,210 acres of land throughout Nacogdoches County. 

The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Small class sizes, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, ensure students receive personalized attention from faculty members who act as mentors.

SFA ensures its academic offerings remain in line with shifting industry expectations. This effort has led to the creation of several new programs in the last five years, including mechanical and electrical engineering degrees and a new music industry program featuring state-of-the-art technology. SFA also added its fourth doctoral-level degree in 2023 with the creation of the Doctorate in Social Work. 

The university's commitment to academic excellence has garnered multiple distinctions, including being named No. 1 regional public school in Texas and No. 18 in the Regional Universities West category in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. SFA also was invited to become a member of the FirstGen Forward Network due to the extensive work done to improve experiences for first-generation students, which make up 42% of the student body.

Ample opportunities for immersive learning prepare students to enter the workforce. A survey of SFA’s May 2023 graduating class indicated that 95% of graduates self-reported positive career outcomes within six months of graduation. Learning doesn’t stop when Lumberjacks walk the graduation stage, so SFA established the Center for Professional and Continuing Education in 2024 to offer upskilling and continuing education to the public.

SFA also continues to make substantial upgrades to campus infrastructure and technology to uphold its promise of encouraging academic innovation. The school's most recent additions include a 20,000-square-foot dining hall with outdoor seating and flexible spaces for events, culinary expos and instruction; the Naymola Basketball Performance Center; Cole STEM Building with innovative makerspaces and cutting-edge tech; and a first-year residence hall. A significant expansion of the Griffith Fine Arts Building completed in 2023 added a recording studio, sound stage, audio and video editing rooms, and an art gallery, among several other state-of-the-art additions. 

To continue modernizing and matching SFA’s planned growth, new construction is underway. Following an $80 million pledge from the UT System, the Forestry Building is slated to be torn down and a brand-new facility planned in its place will house forestry and agriculture programs. A new Agriculture Mechanics Shop also will be constructed.

SFA's athletic teams compete in 18 intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division I level. The community also enjoys live performances, cultural programs and special events that take place throughout the year.