A Parent’s Complete Guide to Stephen F. Austin State University (2026-2027)
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Jump to
- What is the one thing every Stephen F. Austin State University parent needs to know before move-in?
- Quick Facts for Stephen F. Austin State University Families
- A Note on Lumberjacks Identity and Financial Aid
- Getting to Nacogdoches
- What do parents need to know about Stephen F. Austin State University move-in day 2026?
- The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
- How much does Stephen F. Austin State University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
- Nacogdoches and the East Texas Piney Woods: What Parents Need to Know
- When is Stephen F. Austin State University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
- How can parents support their Stephen F. Austin State University student’s mental health?
- Who do Stephen F. Austin State University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
- SFA’s Academic Strengths
- Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
- You Are an SFA Lumberjacks Family Now
- What is Stephen F. Austin State University’s graduation rate?
- Academic Calendar
- What to Pack for Stephen F. Austin State University
What is the one thing every Stephen F. Austin State University parent needs to know before move-in?
Stephen F. Austin State University was established in 1923 in Nacogdoches, Texas, as Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College, created to prepare teachers for the public schools of East Texas.
In the 103 years since, SFA has grown from a teachers college into a comprehensive university of approximately 11,000 students, offering programs from forestry and agriculture through business, education, and the fine arts in Nacogdoches, the oldest city in Texas.
Nacogdoches’ claim to the title of oldest town in Texas is grounded in the Caddo Indian settlement that occupied the site before European contact and the Spanish mission established in 1716. The city’s history encompasses Spanish colonial settlement, the Neutral Ground Agreement of 1806, the Fredonian Rebellion of 1826-1827, and the role of East Texas in the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas. The Old Stone Fort Museum (a reconstruction of the Gil Y’Barbo trading post of 1779, on the SFA campus) is the primary historical heritage site associated with the Nacogdoches founding period.
The forestry identity is the most economically distinctive feature of the SFA setting: the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at SFA is one of the most nationally recognized forestry programs in the South, directly reflecting the East Texas Piney Woods landscape where timber, paper, and forest products have been the economic foundation of the region for more than a century. Nacogdoches and the surrounding counties of East Texas are part of the “Piney Woods” timber belt where the loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, and hardwood forests of deep East Texas support a significant timber industry employment base.
Quick Facts for Stephen F. Austin State University Families
| Family Weekend | Stephen F. Austin State University Family Weekend 2026 is September 26, 2026. |
| Location | Nacogdoches, TX 75962 |
| Enrollment | ~11,000 students |
| Type | Public University, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) |
| In-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$8,500/year (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition (2026-27) | ~$20,000/year (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000/year (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Total Cost (in-state) | ~$21,500-$23,500/year (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Total Cost (out-of-state) | ~$33,000-$35,000/year (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Graduation Rate | ~48% (6-year) |
| Median Earnings (10 years post-grad) | ~$38,000 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Nearest Airport | LFK (Nacogdoches Regional, on campus edge) or IAH (Houston, 120 miles) |
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A Note on Lumberjacks Identity and Financial Aid
SFA’s athletic teams are the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks, competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at the Division I level. The colors are purple and white. The Lumberjacks compete in football at the FCS level, in basketball at William R. Johnson Coliseum, and in other WAC sports.
The Lumberjack identity reflects directly the timber and forestry heritage of East Texas.
Financial aid at SFA is need-based and merit-based through federal, Texas state, and institutional programs. Texas residents should verify eligibility for the TEXAS Grant and other state programs. Contact sfasu.edu/finaid for current programs.
Getting to Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches Regional Airport (LFK) is adjacent to the SFA campus, served by American from the Dallas/Fort Worth hub. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is approximately 120 miles southwest via US-59, providing comprehensive connectivity for families whose home markets require Houston hub access.
For families driving, US-59 connects Nacogdoches to Houston (120 miles southwest) and to Texarkana (120 miles north). US-259 connects west toward Henderson and east toward Marshall. The approach to Nacogdoches from any direction through the East Texas Piney Woods, with the loblolly pine forest flanking the highways and the red clay soil visible in road cuts, is the characteristic East Texas arrival experience.
What do parents need to know about Stephen F. Austin State University move-in day 2026?
SFA’s fall move-in runs in mid-to-late August. Check sfasu.edu/housing for your student’s building and move-in window.
Nacogdoches in mid-August is hot and humid in the deep East Texas way: temperatures in the low to mid 90s with the substantial pine forest humidity, afternoon thunderstorms, and the campus in full late-summer green beneath the pine and oak canopy.
SFA runs organized move-in with residential life staff and building-specific unloading areas.
Practical notes:
- Ship boxes ahead. SFA holds packages.
- After unloading, the Nacogdoches restaurant scene on North Street and the downtown Nacogdoches area provides first-night dining options. The downtown Nacogdoches square restaurants and the University Drive corridor are the most accessible first-night dining destinations.
The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
SFA’s residential system provides on-campus housing for approximately 4,000 students, with freshmen encouraged to live on campus.
The Hall 14, the residence hall complex, and the university apartment communities provide traditional room, suite, and apartment-style configurations for undergraduate students.
The SFA dining program provides meal plan options for on-campus residents.
How much does Stephen F. Austin State University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
Texas residents should verify TEXAS Grant eligibility. Contact sfasu.edu/finaid for current programs.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-State Tuition and Fees | ~$8,500 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | ~$20,000 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$10,000-$12,000 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Books and Supplies | ~$1,200 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Personal and Transportation | ~$3,000 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Estimated Total In-State (before aid) | ~$22,700-$24,700 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
| Estimated Total Out-of-State (before aid) | ~$34,200-$36,200 (verify at sfasu.edu) |
Texas residents should verify TEXAS Grant eligibility. Contact sfasu.edu/finaid for current programs.
If there is a gap between aid and costs, SoFi is consistently competitive on private loan rates. Always work with SFA’s financial aid office first.
FAFSA guide for SFA families Full college cost planning guide
Nacogdoches and the East Texas Piney Woods: What Parents Need to Know
The SFA parent visit provides access to the deepest East Texas Piney Woods landscape, the oldest city in Texas, and the natural and historical heritage of a corner of the state that is unlike any other.
The Old Stone Fort Museum (on the SFA campus) is the reconstruction of the Gil Y’Barbo trading post and Spanish mission that occupied the Nacogdoches site from 1779 onward, with exhibits on the colonial history of East Texas and the founding of Nacogdoches. The Old Stone Fort is the primary heritage site on the SFA campus and documents the oldest chapter of East Texas history.
The SFA Mast Arboretum (on the SFA campus) is a 10-acre arboretum with a large collection of native Texas plants, woodland garden sections, and the distinctive East Texas landscape in a maintained garden setting accessible from the SFA campus.
The Nacogdoches Natural Heritage Museum and the Sterne-Hoya House Museum and Library (611 North Street, Nacogdoches) documents the history of Nacogdoches through its antebellum homes and the museum collections, preserving the heritage of the oldest town in Texas.
Sabine National Forest (approximately 30 miles east of Nacogdoches) provides hiking, fishing, swimming at Toledo Bend Reservoir (one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States), and the deep East Texas Piney Woods landscape in one of the four East Texas national forests.
Toledo Bend Reservoir (Sabine River, approximately 30 miles east) is the 185,000-acre reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana border, one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, with bass fishing, waterskiing, and the lake recreation that draws visitors from across the region.
For parent visit dining: The Appleby’s Sand Bar (Nacogdoches, local seafood and casual dining institution), and the downtown Nacogdoches restaurant corridor for accessible family dining with East Texas character.
When is Stephen F. Austin State University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
Stephen F. Austin State University Family Weekend 2026 is September 26, 2026.
Confirm the schedule and registration on the official SFA families page, and reconfirm the date before booking travel in case it changes. Hotels near campus sell out early, so book as soon as dates are confirmed.
Comparing schools? See our 2026 parents weekend and family weekend dates for every college in one place.
Stephen F. Austin State refunds tuition on a declining schedule after the semester starts, so timing a withdrawal matters.
Deadlines are enforced to the exact minute (4pm on the listed date), not just the calendar date, so a withdrawal filed even an hour late drops a full refund tier, and dropping to zero hours counts as a full withdrawal under this same schedule rather than a simple course drop.
Refund schedule: For a full fall or spring semester, refunds drop on a five-tier declining schedule tied to specific dates and times (100%, then 80%, 70%, 50%, 25%, and 0% as the semester progresses); shorter sub-terms run their own compressed version of the same tiered schedule. Exact dates shift each academic year and are posted on the Dates and Deadlines page each term.. Confirmed via the official Stephen F. Austin State refund policy page. Policies and dates change every term, so verify directly before making a decision.
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Most colleges do not refund 100% of tuition once the semester starts.
GradGuard Tuition Insurance can reimburse tuition, housing, and fees if a covered illness, injury, mental health condition, or other covered reason forces a withdrawal during the term. Plans must be purchased before the semester begins.
Freshmen may bring a car to Stephen F. Austin, no special restriction.
No freshman-specific restriction found; any student with a current housing assignment is eligible on the same terms as other residents. A permit is required at all times, with no exception for age or class year.
Freshman permit cost: $200/academic year (Class H Campus Resident Permit); prorated to $133 starting spring, $50 summer-only. Confirmed via the official Stephen F. Austin parking page. Policies can change year to year, so verify before move-in.
SFA’s Homecoming and the WAC athletics schedule provide the primary athletics events for families. The Lumberjacks football program and the WAC competition schedule provide the primary home athletics events. Check sfasu.edu/athletics for current Family Weekend and home game schedules.
Hotel strategy: Nacogdoches has hotel inventory along the US-59 and North Street corridors. Book Homecoming and major athletics weekends in advance.
How can parents support their Stephen F. Austin State University student’s mental health?
SFA’s Counseling Services provides individual therapy, group therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric referrals.
The deep East Texas Piney Woods setting creates a specific adjustment for students from urban Texas communities: the relative isolation of Nacogdoches, the pine forest landscape, and the regional character of East Texas can be a significant environmental adjustment for students from Houston, Dallas, or the major Texas metropolitan areas.
SFA mental health and health resources:
- Counseling Services: contact via sfasu.edu/counseling
- Student Health Clinic: contact via sfasu.edu/health
- Crisis line: 988 (call or text, 24/7)
- Emergency: 911
Who do Stephen F. Austin State University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
Verify all phone numbers and URLs at sfasu.edu before using, as contact information is subject to change.
- Student Affairs / Parent Resources: contact via sfasu.edu/student-affairs
- Admission: contact via sfasu.edu/admissions
- Financial Aid: contact via sfasu.edu/finaid
- Housing: contact via sfasu.edu/housing
- Counseling Services: contact via sfasu.edu/counseling
- Student Health Clinic: contact via sfasu.edu/health
- University Police (non-emergency): contact via sfasu.edu/police
- Registrar: contact via sfasu.edu/registrar
- Emergency: 911
SFA’s Academic Strengths
The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture is SFA’s most nationally recognized professional school, with undergraduate and graduate programs in forestry, environmental science, agriculture, and natural resource management that are directly connected to the East Texas timber economy and the broader forest products industry.
The forestry program’s connections to Rayonier, Weyerhaeuser, Temple-Inland, and the major timber companies operating in East Texas provide employment and internship connections that are unique to the SFA geographic setting.
The College of Fine Arts provides programs in music, theatre, visual arts, and interior design that reflect SFA’s investment in arts education for East Texas and the professional arts community. The SFA Fine Arts programs include one of the more active university performing arts programs in East Texas.
The Nelson Rusche College of Business is AACSB-accredited and provides undergraduate and MBA programs in accounting, finance, marketing, and management that connect to the East Texas business community and the Houston and Dallas metro economies accessible from Nacogdoches.
The James I. Perkins College of Education provides teacher preparation programs for the East Texas school system and maintains SFA’s historical identity as a teacher preparation institution for the communities of deep East Texas.
Getting Your Student’s Stuff Home Between Semesters
LFK airport (adjacent to campus) provides American connections to DFW, and IAH (120 miles southwest) provides comprehensive connectivity for families requiring Houston hub access. The East Texas climate means December travel is generally weather-manageable. Storage Scholars specializes in student storage with residence hall pickup and delivery.
Full printable SFA dorm packing list
You Are an SFA Lumberjacks Family Now
The Old Stone Fort Museum on campus where the 1779 Spanish trading post is reconstructed and the oldest town in Texas origin story is preserved in the stone walls and the East Texas historical record.
The Sabine National Forest 30 miles east where Toledo Bend Reservoir is one of the largest lakes in the United States and the East Texas Piney Woods forest is doing what loblolly pines do in the red clay country. The timber and forest products employment where the SFA forestry graduates are going to work in the industry that has been cutting and replanting and managing the East Texas pine forest since the railroads first reached the Piney Woods.
Stephen F. Austin State University has been in Nacogdoches since 1923, in the oldest town in Texas, in the deepest East Texas Piney Woods, training teachers and foresters and business professionals for a region that has its own distinct culture, its own distinct landscape, and its own distinct relationship to the rest of Texas. The Lumberjacks are in Nacogdoches. The forest is around them. The trees are still being cut.
Go Jacks.
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Last updated: May 2026. Tuition, dates, and policies subject to change. Verify all time-sensitive information at sfasu.edu and sfasu.edu/housing.
Where to stay near Stephen F. Austin State University
Hotels near campus fill up fast on move-in and Family Weekend. This live map shows places to stay near Stephen F. Austin State University. Drag the map or change the dates to fit your trip.
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What is Stephen F. Austin State University’s graduation rate?
Stephen F. Austin State University graduates 38.9% of students in four years; another 14.4 points finish within six. About 71.7% of first-year students return for sophomore year. Each bar is compared to the national average, marked by the vertical line.
10.1 pts below national
10.7 pts below national
9.3 pts below national
Here is how to read these numbers: the four-year and six-year rates show how many students finish on time and eventually, and retention shows how many return after the first year. Wherever your student lands, the habits that keep them on track matter most: a full, well-sequenced course load, an advisor meeting every term, and using campus support early. See why most students don’t graduate in four years and how to choose the right classes in the right order.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent available data. National averages: NCES. Figures are for first-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students.
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Academic Calendar
Key dates for the Stephen F. Austin State University 2026-2027 academic year. Always verify at the official Registrar page before making travel plans.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 classes begin | August 24, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving break | November 25-27, 2026 |
| Fall finals | December 10-15, 2026 |
| Fall commencement | December 17-18, 2026 (tentative) |
| Spring 2027 classes begin | January 19, 2027 |
| Spring break | March 15-19, 2027 |
| Spring finals | May 10-13, 2027 |
| Spring commencement | May 13-14, 2027 |
Winter break housing: Most SFA residence halls close for winter break. Students who need to stay on campus must apply for break housing through Residential Life in November. Check the housing portal for specific closure dates and application deadlines.
What to Pack for Stephen F. Austin State University
Every dorm is different, but these are the items parents of Stephen F. Austin State University students buy most. Ship directly to campus and skip the trunk-stuffing stress.
Twin XL Bedding Set
Sheets, comforter, and pillowcases — buy before you arrive so the bed is ready day one.
Shower Caddy & Flip Flops
Shared bathrooms require these. Get a hanging caddy and waterproof sandals before move-in.
Surge Protector Power Strip
Most dorms allow 6-outlet surge protectors with USB ports. Check your school’s policy first.
Want the full list? See our complete college packing list →
Shipping to campus? Students get 6 months of Amazon Prime for Young Adults free, then half price on the student’s own account. Here is how it works.
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