Admit rate has ranged 43%–54% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Austin College is a small, private liberal arts school in Sherman, Texas, where students dive into 55+ majors—from business to biology—amid a tight-knit, residential community. With a 48% acceptance rate and a graduation rate punching above its weight (69%), it offers a classic liberal arts experience with Texan flair: think spirited Greek life, robust merit aid, and a focus on turning out grads who earn $36K+ right out of school.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,165
In-state tuition
$48,680
Out-of-state tuition
$48,680
Location
Sherman, TX
Acceptance Rate
48%
4-Year Grad Rate
69%
On-Campus Housing
85% of students
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Median Earnings (1 Yr)
$36,427
Avg Financial Aid Package
$48,681
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,296
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.9×
Median debt at graduation
$24,500
Graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
79%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
73%
Pell (lower-income) share
55%
First-generation share
23%
Endowment / student
$164,587
Financial health
2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$44,384
Business/Commerce, General$38,289
Biology, General$32,925
International Relations and National Security Studies$29,685
History$25,967
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$25,194
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
92°F
Winter low
38°F
Annual rain
49.2"
Annual snow
2.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
161
Scholarly works
4,463
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.3%
Bottom → top quintile
40%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Austin College?
Austin College's acceptance rate is approximately 48% (Sherman, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Austin College?
Admitted students at Austin College typically score 1100–1310 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Austin College cost?
At Austin College, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,107 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Austin College?
Austin College enrolls approximately 1,165 undergraduate students.
Where is Austin College located?
Austin College is located in Sherman, TX.
Admissions
Austin College is somewhat selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 48% (per CollegeData) to 71% (per BigFuture), likely reflecting variations in early vs. regular decision pools. Mid-50% test scores for admitted students range from 1110–1300 on the SAT or 22–28 on the ACT. Notably, 100% of incoming students receive grant or scholarship aid, softening the sticker shock of its private liberal arts price tag. The college emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with no separate application required for merit scholarships up to $35,000.
With 55+ majors and minors, Austin College blends classic liberal arts rigor with pre-professional pathways. Popular majors include Psychology, Biology, Business, and History, while niche strengths like Pre-Law and Pre-Med draw students seeking close faculty mentorship. The Princeton Review named it among the for 2025, praising its balance of humanities and STEM. Students can even design their own major, reflecting the school’s flexible, individualized approach. Small classes are the norm—U.S. News highlights its 12:1 student-faculty ratio—with an emphasis on discussion-based learning.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
$24,035
Political Science and Government$24,035
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Austin College is residential and raucous: 85% of students live on campus, with first-years required to share traditional dorms. Over 75 student organizations and a lively Greek scene (25% of students join sororities/fraternities, per Niche) fuel a social calendar heavy on parties and campus-wide events. Described as 'supportive but spirited,' the vibe balances academic intensity with Texan hospitality—think tailgates for Division III 'Roos athletics alongside late-night study sessions in the library. The college leans into tradition, from freshman-year roommate bonding to all-campus service projects.
Austin College outperforms national averages for liberal arts schools, with a 69% graduation rate (top 30% nationally, per Research.com). Alumni earn a median $36,427 one year post-graduation, climbing steadily with experience. Money Magazine ranks it a 'Best College' for value, citing strong ROI metrics like alumni salaries and low default rates on student loans. Notably, its Pre-Law and Pre-Med pipelines place graduates into top-tier programs, while business majors often land jobs in Dallas’s corporate hubs.
Tuition runs $24,777 after aid (per BigFuture), with 100% of incoming students receiving grants or scholarships. Merit awards range up to $35,000 annually, and the average aid package totals $48,681. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator estimates costs based on 2026–27 aid rules, though lifetime undergraduate borrowing caps at $31,000 for dependent students. Austin College meets 85% of demonstrated need, making it a relative bargain among Texas privates—especially for high-achieving students who qualify for its top-tier scholarships.
Austin College delivers a high-touch, high-value liberal arts experience with Texan pragmatism. Its 12:1 student-faculty ratio ensures mentorship rare at larger schools, while Dallas’s job market (just an hour south) offers internships and post-grad opportunities. The college’s quirky traditions—like 'Kangaroo Court' for freshman hazing—foster camaraderie, and its Division III athletics (the 'Roos) stoke school spirit. For students seeking a close community with strong outcomes minus the cutthroat Ivy vibe, it’s a hidden gem.
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