Building on Success: A Promising New Academic Year
St. Edward’s continues to advance its commitment to delivering academic excellence and fulfilling experiences for all students as it enters the 2025–2026 academic year.
With a bold Strategic Plan 2027, innovative initiatives and an unmatched focus on student success, St. Edward’s is strengthening its role as a destination university for learners at every stage of their educational journey.
The Fall 2025 incoming class reflects historic milestones and academic distinction, positioning the hilltop on a path for a successful year ahead.
Enrollment highlights include a 15% increase in students with the highest academic rankings, 24% increase in Honors Program participation and a greater number of students joining us from Catholic high schools, further strengthening the university’s mission to provide an enriching education rooted in our Holy Cross tradition.
This year also marks a milestone for global engagement, with 12% of incoming students representing more than 20 countries — one of the highest percentages of international students in university history. The class also underscores our commitment to building a belonging and welcoming campus, with an 18% increase in enrollment among underserved populations and communities.
Transfer student enrollment growth this fall highlights the university’s commitment to offering unique pathways for degree completion and maintaining national recognition as a transfer-friendly institution. St. Edward’s saw an overall 6% increase in transfer students, many supported by a new partnership designed to ease the transition from Austin Community College (ACC) to St. Edward’s. Launched in Fall 2025, the ACComplish at St. Edward’s partnership streamlines the transfer process while offering financial assistance and housing, ensuring ACC students have the resources and support they need to continue their education and thrive at St. Edward’s.
Beyond our transfer enrollment, the university also saw growth among other student populations. More students re-entering, those returning to the hilltop after being away for at least a semester, chose to continue their studies at St. Edward’s, and post-baccalaureate enrollment increased significantly, three times more this fall compared to fall 2024. Of note, more than half of these students are pursuing an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, contributing to continued growth in Nursing programs within the new School of Health Sciences. The rise in nursing enrollment numbers is a testament to the university’s commitment to developing innovative healthcare programs that respond to workforce needs and address the nationwide nursing shortage.
St. Edward’s continues to strengthen its role as a premier destination for learners in a rapidly changing higher education and workforce landscape.
The university is broadening its academic influence and redefining how it supports students throughout their academic journey by creating diverse pathways for educational advancement, providing career guidance through tailored assessments and opening doors to innovative internship opportunities within Austin’s dynamic economic and cultural ecosystem.
Through strategic partnerships and initiatives with local businesses, nonprofits and cultural organizations, St. Edward’s creates pathways for students to engage directly with Austin’s thriving industries, ensuring they gain real-world experiences and career readiness. Unique initiatives such as Career and Professional Development’s (CAPD) Career Treks provide students with immersive experiences at top Austin businesses and organizations, where they explore career paths, practice professional engagement, earn internships and expand their networks with leading employers. Notable Career Trek activities include visits to South by Southwest, Austin City Limits Live, Google, and Dell Seton. The impact on students speaks for itself. According to CAPD, 40% of Career Treks have led to at least one student securing an internship or professional position, and 100% of participants report these experiences have expanded their network and industry knowledge.
St. Edward’s is deeply committed to workforce development, partnering with Austin employers to bridge its curriculum directly to the skills and expertise most in demand. The university partners with a diverse range of employers in providing a robust suite of professional education programs for adult learners. These initiatives are designed to promote lifelong learning, empower professionals to advance their careers and address evolving needs of the Central Texas regional workforce.
Collaborations with entities such as Goodwill’s Career and Technical Academy deliver instructional development and equip learners with practical, career-ready skills. Employers seeking to develop their current workforce talent similarly partner with St. Edward’s to provide affordable, flexible training programs. Through the Professional Studies office, faculty tailor coursework into customized learning experiences, ranging from self-paced modules to seminar series, designed to meet the needs of both learners and their employers.
As St. Edward’s enters its fourth year of Strategic Plan 2027, the university remains dedicated to advancing priorities that support the success of students, faculty and staff.
Key objectives include launching the first master’s and doctoral programs in the School of Health Sciences, expanding faculty and student research through diverse funding and partnerships, strengthening career readiness by broadening corporate outreach and aiming for 85% of graduates to participate in at least one internship, and promoting equity by addressing academic disparities to better support underserved learners on their path to graduation.
Collectively, these initiatives advance our mission to position St. Edward’s as a Destination University for a More Just World. The university pursues academic distinction through transformative teaching and research, while delivering an education rooted in Holy Cross values to students of all backgrounds, fosters an inclusive campus community where every student feels a sense of belonging, and strengthens partnerships across Austin to expand experiential learning opportunities. St. Edward’s invests in infrastructure, environmental sustainability and resources that ensure students thrive both during their time on the hilltop and as they go out to take on their world.
#5 Best University in the West!
This is the second consecutive year that St. Edward's has secured the No. 5 spot in the U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Universities in the West rankings for its commitment to academic excellence, student success and preparing graduates to make meaningful contributions as they take on their world.
