Sul Ross State University

Public · Moderately Selective · TX

Photo: Adavyd (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationTX · South

SettingRural

Undergrads1,396

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate21.8%

6-yr grad rate29.9%

Drop-out rate55.1%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$8k

Out-of-state tuition$18k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity80.8%

Gender diversity57.2%

International0.7%

Identity—

Overview

Sul Ross State University is a small public university in Alpine, Texas, the main institution serving the vast, sparsely populated Big Bend region of far west Texas. High desert, ranch country, and long distances between towns define its surroundings, and campus culture reflects that geography as much as any academic program does. It is named for Lawrence Sullivan Ross, a former Texas governor.

Academics

Range animal science, wildlife and natural resource management, and geology draw directly on the Chihuahuan Desert and nearby Big Bend National Park, giving students field access few programs elsewhere can match. Agriculture, criminal justice, and education round out the core offerings. Classes are small, and faculty in the land-based programs tend to have working ties to regional ranching, energy, and conservation industries, pushing coursework toward practical, hands-on skills.

Campus & student life

Alpine is a small railroad town ringed by mountains, hours from any metro area, and campus culture runs toward rodeo, ranching, and the outdoors rather than a conventional college-town scene. The rodeo team is a genuine source of pride and competes nationally. Students who choose Sul Ross tend to want the remoteness rather than merely accept it — it is a poor fit for someone seeking an urban or suburban experience.

Getting in

Admission is accessible rather than highly selective; the university positions itself around fit with its programs and setting more than competitive prestige, drawing students specifically interested in range science, geology, or the Big Bend region itself.

After graduation

Graduates in range management, wildlife science, geology, and agriculture move into land and wildlife agencies, ranching operations, energy and mining companies, and conservation work across the Southwest, where the university's regional reputation and alumni ties carry real weight.

Worth knowing

A satellite campus in Del Rio extends the university's reach along the Texas-Mexico border. The remoteness of the Alpine campus is a defining, not incidental, feature — worth weighing seriously before enrolling.

sulross.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate98.7%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 930–1110 · ACT 15–24

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying