The site of Stephen F. Austin State University is located in historic Nacogdoches. Resting in the heart of East Texas, the city is approximately 140 miles north of Houston, 180 miles south east of Dallas, and 90 miles southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Though old in tradition, Nacogdoches, now numbering 30,000 people, reflects modern changes epitomizing the gradual shift of East Texas to an urban society and a diversified economy.

In the last two decades, the University has matured as a comprehensive regional institution which enrolls over 12,000 students in long terms and 5,000 in each summer term. In spite of its growing size and diversity, Stephen F. Austin State University has maintained its character as a student-oriented institution that offers a level of excellence in academic and student-life programs in a residential setting unique among the comprehensive institutions in Texas.

The main campus includes 401 acres, part of the original homestead of Thomas J. Rusk, early Texas patriot and United States Senator. The campus is an impressive setting of pine trees and natural beauty surrounding some 28 major instructional buildings and nineteen dormitories which represents an investment of approximately $166,000,000. By balancing a program of new construction with one of on-going renovation of older structures, the institution has created an attractive, modern and functional living and learning environment for its students and a center of intellectual and cultural enhancement for its region.

Life enrichment opportunities abound on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, and in the general Nacogdoches area. Students and their families enjoy the vibrant fine arts of the University and the community. The area affords numerous outdoor activities at lakes, parks, scenic forests, and nature trails. A large number of civic, religious, and social groups traditionally welcome the University students to be part of their cultural activities.