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, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas under its original charter
- North of Dallas 100 acre environmentally green campus
- 1,228 students from 28 states, 16 countries, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- 12:1 student to faculty ratio, average class size of 15
- 50.2% of the student body are people of color; 24.8% are Hispanic, 14.5% are AANAPI, and 7.3% are black; 21.9% of our students are first-generation college students, and 29.7% are Pell-eligible
- NCAA Division III athletics involve more than 26% of the student body in 14 varsity teams
- Austin College gets 100% of its electricity from wind energy
- Adams Observatory has the largest research telescope in North Texas, offering exploration in astronomy
- More than 55 areas of study, including a design-your-own major supported by research, internships, study abroad, and other experiential learning opportunities
- Austin College is a designated AANAPI (Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander) Serving Institution
Prestigious Academics & Research
- Medical school acceptance rates for a first time Austin College applicant is 63%, compared to only 35% in Texas – 80% higher than average
- 98% of May 2021 graduates completed degrees in four years or less
- 120 student-athletes earned all-conference academic honors last year
- Austin College is a top producer of the Fulbright awardees in Texas per capita
- The Austin College Teaching Program has students graduate with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and teaching certification in 4.5-years
- In partnership with Austin College, Texas Tech University offers a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication & Innovation, designed to prepare you to succeed in the communications industry or to continue studies toward a Ph.D.
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.
Building a Portfolio of Experience Through Applied Learning
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Center for Research, Experiential, Artistic & Transformative Education, CREATE is the home for student research at Austin College, including summer research programs
- The Austin College Student Scholarship Conference provides an opportunity for students to present research projects, intellectual scholarship activities, and creative works across disciplines. Since it began in 2015, more than 800 students have presented original scholarly work, representing every academic major on campus.
- Our Model United Nations program routinely places at the highest levels in competitions
- Students manage an investment fund of $1 million and gain real-world experience in the stock market. At some schools, students make virtual investments. At Austin College, it’s the real deal
- Product lab incubates entrepreneurial design and allows students to pitch, develop, and send innovative ideas to market
- Area nonprofits have gained over $1.3 million in new funding from students’ grant writing success in the SEPA program (Social Entrepreneurship for Poverty Alleviation) program.
- 100% of students participate in our four-week JanTerm, which offers in-depth study and intensive research courses, career exploration, and internships on-campus and around the world.
Discovery That Opens Doors
- 88% of students complete professional internships
- 100% of students participate in our four-week JanTerm, which offers in-depth study and intensive research courses, career exploration, and internships-on campus and around the world
- Adams Observatory has the largest research telescope in North Texas, offering exploration in astronomy
- Area nonprofits have gained over $1.3 million in new funding from students’ grant writing success in the SEPA program (Social Entrepreneurship for Poverty Alleviation) program
A Community of Active Leaders
- With over 70 student-led clubs and organizations, students have ample opportunities to develop and apply leadership skills
- TEDxAustinCollege offers leadership and event production experience, presenting ideas worth sharing around the globe. TEDxAustinCollege videos have over 390,00 views.
- Students in our Environmental Studies Program have been leading field trips for area elementary schoolers since 2002 at the Sneed Environmental Research Area, hosting 37 schools and 11,600+ students through hands-on lessons about prairie restoration. More than 1,100 Austin College students, faculty, and staff have contributed to the restoration effort. In 2020, the Sneed Prairie Restoration project won a prestigious Texas Environmental Excellence Award in the Education category from TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality).
Community Impact
Austin College has contributed more than $73 million to the Texas economy in the past year, representing both induced and direct spending.- More than 1,100 people in the Texoma workforce are affiliated with Austin College (i.e., alumni, college faculty and staff).
- 9 of every 10 Austin College students volunteer, and each year, our students contribute over 16,000 service hours annually—a value of $398,310 each yea.
Recognition
- Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change The Way You Think About Colleges
- Best Value Schools: #2 in Top 20 Deals on Small Colleges in Texas
- Great College Deals: #5 in the 30 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the South
- Wall Street Journal: #8 Top Colleges in Texas
- College Vine: #2 in the Top 50 Colleges that Award the Most Merit Aid in the nation