Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Nacogdoches, Texas. It enrolls 8,728 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value74
Affordability71
Selectivity16
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94%, Stephen F Austin State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
970 – 1170
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Stephen F Austin State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
20.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Stephen F Austin State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,260 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,260
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,128
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$23,426
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,144
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,184
Books & Supplies
$1,208
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,350
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,350
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,791
Application fee: $45 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,318
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,023
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,100
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,609
Over $110,000
$22,959
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,15810%percentile
$6,68225%percentile
$23,409Medianpercentile
$28,50075%percentile
$40,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $4,409
No Pell $15,000
↓ $8,409
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $5,909
Independent students $19,875
↓ $3,534
Female students $18,500
↓ $4,909
Male students $15,500
↓ $7,909
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,000, less than completers ($23,409), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Stephen F Austin State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $49,634 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,634
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,200, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Stephen F Austin State University is home to 8,728 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,728
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 55.5%4,841
Hispanic 24.0%2,095
Black 12.1%1,054
Other 4.5%393
Asian 1.2%105
International 0.9%74
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Stephen F Austin State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteNacogdoches, Texas
Housing
Mostly residential3,911 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Stephen F Austin State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
104 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Stephen F Austin State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,780
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$125M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,978
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
493 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
117
24%
$93,202
Associate Professors
145
29%
$81,058
Assistant Professors
103
21%
$72,455
Instructors
40
8%
$64,167
Lecturers
65
13%
$54,375
No Rank
23
5%
$53,714
Pros & Cons of Stephen F Austin State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Stephen F Austin State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Stephen F Austin State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stephen F Austin State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Stephen F Austin State University.
Is Stephen F Austin State University hard to get into?
Stephen F Austin State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94%.
What is the acceptance rate at Stephen F Austin State University?
Stephen F Austin State University has an acceptance rate of 94%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Stephen F Austin State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Stephen F Austin State University scored between 970 and 1170 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Stephen F Austin State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Stephen F Austin State University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Stephen F Austin State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Stephen F Austin State University is $14,260 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Stephen F Austin State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,634 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,260 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Stephen F Austin State University known for?
Stephen F Austin State University is best known for its programs in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Kinesiology, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Stephen F Austin State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Stephen F Austin State University are $49,634, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Stephen F Austin State University accredited?
Yes. Stephen F Austin State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Stephen F Austin State University?
Stephen F Austin State University enrolls 8,728 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Stephen F Austin State University?
Stephen F Austin State University graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Stephen F Austin State University a public or private college?
Stephen F Austin State University is a Public institution.
Where is Stephen F Austin State University located?
Stephen F Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches, Texas.
What programs does Stephen F Austin State University offer?
Stephen F Austin State University offers 104 distinct programs. The most popular include Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Kinesiology, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Stephen F Austin State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Stephen F Austin State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Texas
Other colleges in Texas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Counseling Education
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Business Administration
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