Stephen F. Austin State University
79%
Acceptance rate
1.38%
Intl. students
$20,968
Tuition/yr
13,000
Enrollment
About Stephen F. Austin State University
Public research university in Texas. Strong forestry, business, and engineering programs.
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) is a public university in Nacogdoches, Texas, chartered by the Texas Legislature in 1917 and elevated to full university status in 1969. It is a member of the University of Texas System and enrolls approximately 10,472 students across undergraduate and graduate programs.
SFA is nationally recognised for its College of Forestry and Agriculture, which operates a 2,500-acre experimental forest established by Congressional act in 1944 and consistently ranks among the strongest forestry programs in the southern United States. The university also offers strong programs in business, education, nursing, and the sciences, with more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degrees across several colleges.
The campus sits in Nacogdoches, one of the oldest towns in Texas, approximately 142 miles north of Houston. The setting provides a small-city campus experience with close access to East Texas forests, which directly supports hands-on learning in natural resources programs. SFA is ranked #38 among Regional Universities West and #21 among Top Public Schools in the West by US News & World Report (2026 edition).
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
TX
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- SFA's out-of-state tuition and fees are approximately $20,968 per year, making it one of the more affordable US public universities for international students compared to flagship state schools, with a total estimated cost of attendance around $43,000 including housing and living costs.
- International students are eligible for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, which awards $1,500 to $6,000 annually for up to four years, a merit award open to international bachelor's applicants that can meaningfully offset tuition costs.
- Graduates on F-1 visas can access 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completing their degree, and those in qualifying STEM fields such as computer science, biology, and environmental science may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, providing up to three years of US work authorisation.
- Nepali students interested in forestry, environmental management, or agricultural sciences will find SFA's College of Forestry and Agriculture particularly relevant, as its forestry placement rate and dedicated experimental forest provide strong employment outcomes in natural resource sectors.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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