Stephen F. Austin State University is continuing its strong enrollment momentum, with summer 2026 headcount currently up 6% and semester credit hours increasing 7% compared to summer 2025. To apply for summer II and fall courses, visit sfasu.edu/apply
Stephen F. Austin State University is continuing its strong enrollment momentum, with summer 2026 headcount currently up 6% and semester credit hours increasing 7% compared to summer 2025.
While enrollment remains open and the university’s preliminary summer census date is July 9, current trends position SFA for its first summer enrollment increase since 2020 and one of the largest summer enrollment gains in recent university history.
“Students are increasingly choosing SFA because they recognize the value of a degree that combines academic quality, personalized support and strong career outcomes,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. “These preliminary summer numbers build on the momentum we experienced throughout the past academic year and reflect the confidence students and families have in the direction of this university.”
Preliminary data indicate that, in addition to a 6% increase in student headcount, SFA has generated 7% more semester credit hours than last summer. Credit hour production, a key indicator of student engagement, plays an important role in state funding.
According to Dr. Kent Willis, senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement, the increase reflects both student demand and institutional efforts to create flexible pathways to degree completion.
“Summer enrollment provides students with an opportunity to stay on track, accelerate their progress toward graduation and take advantage of flexible course options,” Willis said. “We’re seeing strong participation from continuing students and transfer students who are using the summer term to move forward academically.”
For students like Billy Stewart, a kinesiology junior from Clarksville, the summer session has been a game changer.
“I was able to knock out two core classes online while working part time,” he said. “It’s helping me graduate on time and save money.”
The university continues to offer a wide range of summer II courses, with classes beginning July 6. Students can still register for available undergraduate and graduate courses offered online, in hybrid formats and on campus.
“There is still time for students to enroll in summer II courses,” Willis said. “Whether a student wants to complete a core requirement, lighten a future course load or make additional progress toward a degree, there are excellent opportunities available.”
The preliminary summer enrollment gains continue SFA’s pattern of growth. Earlier this year, the university reported its first spring-to-spring enrollment increase since 2019 and its largest spring enrollment increase since 2010. In fall 2025, SFA welcomed the largest freshman class in university history, and applications and admissions for fall 2026 continue to outpace last year’s record-setting levels.
To apply for summer II and fall courses, visit sfasu.edu/apply.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.
By University Marketing Communications
