Mission | History | Mascot | Page Plaid
“This [170]-year-old community of learning ... will excite you, stretch you, expand your world, and make you believe in yourself. This college does marvelous things to multiply talents and to develop character.”
– Loren Pope, Colleges that Change Lives
General Facts
- Founded in 1849, oldest institution of higher education in Texas under its original charter
- North of Dallas 100 acre environmentally green campus
- 1,288 students from 30 states and 14 countries
- 13:1 student faculty ratio, average class size of 16
- 46% ethnic minority, with 2019 freshman class 54%
- 55+ areas of academic study
- 18 varsity teams NCAA Division III athletic teams
Our compass curriculum is designed to meet the ever changing needs of the 21st century. 100% of students complete an applied learning experience which is an internship, research project, leadership or international experience, or an integrated learning project.
Prestigious Academics & Research
- 90% of graduates who apply to health science professional schools and graduate programs are accepted
- 97% of May 2020 graduates completed degrees in four years or less
- Students join expert professors to conduct research and publish studies that often lead to presentation at national academic conferences
- 750 students, faculty, and staff participated in the Austin College Student Scholarship Conference
- Top producer of Fulbright awardees in Texas
Building a Portfolio of Experience through Applied Learning
-
Model United Nations program routinely places at the highest levels in competitions
- Students manage a one-million dollar investment fund
- Jordan Family Language House offers an immersive residential learning experience in five languages
- Each summer Global Outreach Fellows complete internships with non-profits around the world
Discovery That Opens Doors
- 88% of students complete professional internships
- 2/3 of students study abroad, for a semester, a year, or a JanTerm
- 100% of students participate in our four-week JanTerm with in-depth study, intensive research, and career exploration
- Adams Observatory with the largest research telescope in North Texas offers exploration in astronomy
A Community of Active Leaders
- Students volunteer 16,000 service hours annually—a value of $398,310 each year.
- Area nonprofits have gained nearly $1 million in new funding from students’ grant writing success in the SEPA program.
- TEDxAustinCollege offers leadership experience and global visibility
- Sherman Cultural District
Community Impact
Austin College has contributed $20.39 million to local vendors, utilities, and construction in the Texoma Region.- During the 2016-2017 fiscal year, Austin College’s direct and indirect impacts on the North Texas region’s economy was $262,386 million.
- More than 1,100 people in the Texoma workforce are affiliated with Austin College (i.e., alumni, college faculty and staff).
Recognition
- Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change The Way You Think About Colleges
- Fiske Guide to Colleges: Best Buy
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Best College Value
- Money Magazine: Best Merit-Based Scholarships
- Open Doors: Top 40 Baccalaureate College
- The Princeton Review: Best 384 Colleges, Guide to 388 Green Colleges
- USA Today: Top 10 Colleges in Texas
- U.S. News & World Report: Best National Liberal Arts Colleges
- Wall Street Journal: Top Colleges in Texas
- Washington Monthly College Rankings: America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges