Saint Edward's University

What is the history of Saint Edward's University?

St. Edward's University is a private Catholic university in Austin, Texas, founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Its origins date to 1878, when the Rev. Edward Sorin, who also founded the University of Notre Dame, established St. Edward's Academy on the Austin site.

The institution became St. Edward's College in 1885 and later adopted the university name as its academic offerings expanded. What began as a school for boys developed into a university offering undergraduate and graduate education; women were admitted to undergraduate study in the 1970s. The Holy Cross affiliation remains part of its identity, while its programs and student services serve applicants from a range of religious backgrounds.

What are the faculties and departments at Saint Edward's University?

St. Edward's offers bachelor's and graduate programs across the arts, sciences, social sciences, education, and business. Its academic organization includes the Bill Munday School of Business and schools covering arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, and natural sciences.

Undergraduates can explore subjects such as accounting, marketing, biology, computer science, communication, psychology, social work, and the performing arts. Graduate offerings and professional preparation vary by field. Applicants considering teaching, counseling, health-related work, or another licensed profession should check the specific degree plan and its relationship to Texas licensing requirements; admission to a university does not by itself establish eligibility for a professional license.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes scale, not a promise about the size of an individual course. Reviewing the current catalog is especially useful for comparing majors because concentrations, prerequisites, and required internships can differ substantially.

What is the location of Saint Edward's University?

St. Edward's University occupies a hilltop campus at 3001 South Congress Avenue in Austin, south of downtown. It offers a defined residential campus within a city where commuting, internships, and off-campus activities are also part of many students' routines.

South Congress connects the campus with other parts of Austin, and Capital Metro transit serves the surrounding area. Students planning to commute should compare routes and schedules with their class times rather than assuming that a nearby address means a short trip. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, although parking rules and permit costs should be checked separately.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the nearest major airport. Its proximity may matter to students traveling home or considering study abroad, but daily transportation choices will depend more on where a student lives and works.

What is the mission and vision of Saint Edward's University?

St. Edward's states that its educational mission draws on the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Congregation of Holy Cross. Its stated priorities include academic learning, ethical reflection, engagement with diverse perspectives, and service to others.

That identity appears in opportunities for reflection, campus ministry, and community service alongside academic coursework. It does not mean every student must share a religious belief. Prospective students who want to understand how the mission affects their own degree should examine the current general-education requirements and any religion or ethics coursework specified for their program.