Texas State University
Texas State University (TXST) is a public research university with its main campus in San Marcos, Texas and another campus in Round Rock. Since its establishment in 1899, the university has grown to be one of the largest universities in the United States. Texas State University reached a record enrollment of 38,873 students in the 2023 fall semester, continuing a trend of enrollment growth over several years.[5]
"Texas State" redirects here. For the U.S. state, see Texas.
Former name
Southwest Texas State Normal School (1899–1918)
Southwest Texas State Normal College (1918–1923)
Southwest Texas State Teachers College (1923–1959)
Southwest Texas State College (1959–1969)
Southwest Texas State University (1969–2003)
Texas State University-San Marcos (2003–2013)[1]
Auctoritas Gravitas Humanitas Veritas (Latin)
Prestige, Seriousness, Humanity, Truth
1899
$359 million (August, 2023)[2]
Kelly Damphousse
Eugene Bourgeois
38,873 (Fall 2023)[3]
34,872 (Fall 2023)[3]
4,001 (Fall 2023)[3]
507 acres (205 ha) main campus
101 acres (41 ha) round rock campus
Maroon and gold[4]
Boko the Bobcat
Texas State University offers over 200 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from its ten colleges. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. Texas State is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity"[6][7] and an Emerging Research University (ERU) by the State of Texas.[8] It spent over $140 million in research expenditures during fiscal year 2023.[9]
The 36th president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, graduated from the institution in 1930;[10] Texas State University is the only college or university in Texas to have a U.S. president as an alumnus.
Texas State's main campus consists of 245 buildings on 507 acres (2.05 km2) of hilly land along the San Marcos River. Additionally, it has a 101 acres (0.41 km2) satellite campus at its Round Rock Campus (RRC) in the greater north Austin area. The university operates the 70 acres (0.28 km2) Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Park, a technology commercialization and applied research facility.[11] Texas State has 4,522 acres (18.30 km2) additional acres of recreational, instructional, farm, and ranch land. The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State is the largest forensics research facility in the world.[12]
Texas State University's intercollegiate sports teams, the Bobcats, compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Sun Belt Conference.
Academic rankings
418
280 (tie)
207
259
1001-1200
1723 (tie)
Extracurricular activities[edit]
Residential life[edit]
Approximately 20% of Texas State students live in on-campus or in university-owned housing[81] including about 95% of freshman students.[82] Beginning in August 2012, there were approximately 6,353 beds in a variety of housing options including traditional dorms and apartment-style housing offered by the university.[83]
Texas State University's most notable alumnus is U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson attended the university, then known as the Southwest Texas State Teachers College, from 1926 until 1930 when he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. As a student, Johnson participated on the debate team and was an editor for the student newspaper, then known as the College Star.[124][125] Johnson remains the only U.S. president who graduated from a university in the state of Texas.[126]
Another notable alum is Grammy Award-winning American country music singer George Strait. Strait graduated in 1979 from the university, then known as Southwest Texas State University, with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. As a student, Strait performed his first show with the Ace in the Hole Band at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos.[127] In 2006, Strait was given an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by University President Denise Trauth.[128][129]
Other notable alumni include: comedian Devon Walker, who joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2022; General Robert L. Rutherford, United States Air Force; musician Scott H. Biram; actor Powers Boothe;[130] writer Tomás Rivera;[131] Texas state representative Alfred P.C. Petsch; columnist "Heloise" (Ponce Cruse Evans);[132] mathematician and former president of the American Mathematical Society R. H. Bing; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt; professional wrestler Lance Archer (Lance Hoyt); Texas musician Charlie Robison; and military historian Alan C. Carey.
