Saint Edward's University

Private · Moderately Selective · TX

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationTX · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads2,493

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate52.2%

6-yr grad rate62.6%

Drop-out rate20.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$51k

Out-of-state tuition$51k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity73.7%

Gender diversity59.3%

International7.1%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

St. Edward's University is a Catholic university in Austin, Texas, founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the same order behind Notre Dame, King's College, and Stonehill. Its hilltop campus overlooks downtown Austin, anchored by the gothic Main Building, a recognizable Texas landmark. A Hispanic-Serving Institution with a strong social-justice orientation, St. Edward's emphasizes access for first-generation students and global engagement, all within reach of one of the country's fastest-growing tech and startup hubs. The university is mid-sized, small enough for close faculty relationships but broad enough in program range to support pre-professional ambitions.

Academics

The Munday School of Business, biology and pre-health tracks, digital media, and criminology through the School of Justice are among its stronger programs. Class sizes are small and instruction is teaching-focused, with the Holy Cross tradition emphasizing ethics alongside career preparation. New College serves working and returning adult students separately from the traditional undergraduate program.

Campus & student life

The campus sits in south Austin, close enough to downtown for regular internship and cultural access but distinct enough to feel like its own community. Housing is largely on campus for underclassmen, and the setting trades a traditional football-Saturday culture for a smaller, more service- and arts-oriented student life.

Getting in

Applications are read holistically, with essays and demonstrated engagement weighed alongside coursework rather than a single formula. The university has built a reputation for looking closely at first-generation and Hispanic-Serving applicant pools rather than defaulting to standardized metrics.

After graduation

Austin's internship market, in technology, state government, and music, is a real draw, and many graduates stay in the city after finishing. The alumni network is regionally concentrated in Texas.

Worth knowing

The Main Building's gothic architecture and hilltop view are St. Edward's signature image, often used to distinguish it from Austin's much larger public university across town. Global engagement, including study abroad, is a stated priority campus-wide.

stedwards.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate81.4%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 970–1240 · ACT 22–28

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Regular decisionMay 1

AdmissionRolling

Applying