Austin College

Private · Selective · TX

Photo: Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationTX · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,165

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate63.1%

6-yr grad rate67%

Drop-out rate20.6%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$49k

Out-of-state tuition$49k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity53.1%

Gender diversity51.3%

International0.9%

IdentityPresbyterian Church (USA)

Overview

Austin College, in Sherman, Texas — an hour north of Dallas despite the name — is a Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college that claims to be the oldest institution of higher education in Texas still operating under its original charter. It's known for a rigorous, close-knit academic culture built around a distinctive January interim term that breaks up the standard two-semester calendar.

Academics

Pre-med outcomes are a particular strength, supported by dedicated health-professions advising, and the college runs a notable five-year program combining a bachelor's degree with a teaching certification. The January term is used heavily for international study, internships, and off-campus coursework — most students study abroad at least once before graduating, and the college's Posey Leadership Institute adds a distinctive layer of leadership-focused programming beyond the standard major.

Campus & student life

The campus is small and residential, fostering a tight community typical of a Texas liberal arts college of its size, and the Kangaroos — an unusual mascot with no obvious Texas connection — give the college a distinctive, self-aware identity. The January term gives the academic calendar a rhythm not found at most peer schools, with students scattering abroad or into internships for a month each winter, and campus social life quiets noticeably during that stretch before picking back up for spring semester.

Getting in

Admission emphasizes academic preparation for a genuinely rigorous curriculum, and the college's Presbyterian heritage informs its values and honor code without requiring religious affiliation from applicants. Essays and interviews get real attention in a holistic process sized to a small applicant pool.

After graduation

Austin College has an unusually strong reputation for placing graduates into medical school and other health professions relative to its size, and its education and teaching-certification pipeline sends graduates into Texas classrooms directly. The Posey Leadership Institute's national prize also gives the college visibility in leadership studies beyond its size.

Worth knowing

The January term is central to the Austin College experience — most students use it for study abroad or internships, and it's one of the more distinctive academic-calendar features among Texas liberal arts colleges. The Kangaroo mascot is a genuine, longstanding oddity worth knowing about going in.

austincollege.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate47.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1100–1310 · ACT 23–29

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Regular decisionMar 1

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App, ApplyTexas, or Own application.

Priority / scholarshipFeb 1

Financial aid formsMar 1

Austin College offers two nonbinding Early Action rounds: EA I (apply by November 1, notified December 15) and EA II (apply by February 1, notified March 1).

Interviews: An admission interview is not required but is recommended, as it helps the college get to know each applicant better.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗