But opening the door easily is not the same as guaranteeing that walking through it will be worthwhile. This article exists so that you can understand, using real numbers and without embellishment, what kind of university Sul Ross is, where it is, whom it serves, how much it costs, and what happens to the students who enroll there. It is not meant to tell you whether it is right for your child. You decide that, together with your child, by combining this information with what your child wants and what your family can afford.
Where this university stands
Sul Ross State University is a public four-year institution located in Alpine, Texas, in Brewster County. The area around the campus is a remote town, not a large urban area. If your family does not live nearby, you will need to consider separately where your child would live and how your child would get to campus every day. This information only locates the school; it does not tell you how long your trip there would take.
Carnegie, the system that classifies US universities according to what they do, describes it as a four-year, primarily residential master’s university with larger programs. It offers programs through the graduate level—master’s is the highest level it reports—although that does not tell you whether the specific major your child is interested in is available there or whether it connects to a graduate program. Ask the department directly.
One fact is worth clarifying right away: Sul Ross has none of three special designations—it is not a historically Black university, a tribal university, or a land-grant institution. Of 3,012 universities in the federal directory, only 138 have at least one of the three. Its lack of such a designation says nothing about whom it serves or how your child will feel there. Find that out by speaking with someone who already studies on campus.
A community where being Latino is not the exception
Here is a number worth looking at directly: 68 out of every 100 undergraduate students at Sul Ross identified as Hispanic or Latino in fall 2023. That is among the highest proportions at 519 selective public universities in the country; nine out of ten of those schools report an equal or lower figure.
If your child is worried about being “the only one” in a classroom, the numbers here do not show that. But be careful not to read this figure as a guarantee of anything more. Counting how many students there are is not the same as knowing whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor, targeted tutoring, or whether those same students actually finish their degrees. This is the percentage for the entire school, not for the particular major that interests your child. Find out for yourself.
There are also more women than men—56 out of every 100—and a mix of ages: 26 out of every 100 students are between 25 and 64 years old. And nearly all new students, 96 out of every 100, already lived in Texas before applying.
In terms of size, Sul Ross has 1,942 students enrolled in total, making it a medium-small university compared with its peers: seven out of ten similar universities have more students. But that total combines two different worlds: 1,441 are undergraduates and 501 are graduate students. If your child is beginning a bachelor’s degree, the number that matters is 1,441, not the total.
How the academic year works and what credit it recognizes
The academic calendar uses semesters: two terms of about 15 weeks each, with common dates for everyone. The university reported that it accepts credit from AP exams as well as what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—including independent study, work experience, and prior licenses or certifications—in addition to credit for military training. It also enrolls high school students in college-credit courses through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is the part that matters before you start making optimistic calculations: reporting that it accepts AP does not mean it will award credit for every exam your child takes. We do not know what scores are required or whether those credits will count toward your child’s specific major. Request a written equivalency evaluation before enrolling, and do not subtract those potential savings from your budget until you have it in hand.
As for its degree offerings, Sul Ross awarded 362 bachelor’s degrees in the most recently reported year, distributed across 21 academic program families. No field dominates: the largest, business and administration, accounts for only 18 out of every 100 degrees. Compared with 514 similar universities, it falls in the quarter awarding the fewest degrees per year. Its offerings are broad but not deep in any one area: verify the exact program that interests your child, because “21 active program families” does not mean 21 complete majors or guarantee that the one your child wants is strong there.
The ratio of students to instructional staff is 11 to 1—one of the lowest compared with similar schools—but that number alone does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class. It is an aggregate ratio, not a promise of personalized attention.
Academic opportunities reported by the institution
Sul Ross reports study abroad, cocurricular undergraduate research, developmental education with and without credit, and pathways for teacher certification preparation, including state approval of its initial certification program. These are pathways the institution reports as available; their existence on paper does not indicate how often they are used or their quality. Ask directly how they work for the major that interests your child.
Getting in: what they do and do not consider
You already know that Sul Ross accepts 96 out of every 100 applicants. But it does not have “open admission”: the university does review materials before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked four as required: the high school transcript, GPA, class rank, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. In contrast, it marked the personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio, work experience, and whether a relative studied there as not considered. Even if your child submits them, the report says they do not factor into the admission decision.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency exam applies and what would qualify your child for an exemption. This is one of those things people discover late, complicating their timelines.
The SAT and ACT are optional: if applicants submit them, the university considers them; if they do not, their applications proceed just the same. Among those who did submit the SAT—only 15 out of every 100 enrolled students—the middle half scored between 473 and 568 in reading and writing, and between 460 and 530 in mathematics. That range is neither a minimum for admission nor a guarantee of anything: it is only what was reported by students who had already enrolled and chose to submit their scores. The undergraduate application fee is $50.
Here is a fact that changes how everything above should be read: out of every 100 admitted applicants, only 22 ultimately enroll. The other 78 had a place here and did not take it. Do not read that as a stain—the federal record does not say why each person made that decision—but do not ignore it either: what others decided does not predict what your child will be offered. Wait for the letter showing the net price. Use that number to decide whether the school stays on the list.
One more fact about student movement: among those who entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, 35 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here—one of the highest proportions compared with similar institutions. A student who transfers is not counted as a Sul Ross graduate, even if that student finishes the degree elsewhere. Keep that in mind when you compare graduation rates later in this article.
The sticker price: two numbers, not one
For the 2023-24 year, the total cost of attendance reported by Sul Ross was $24,916 per year for an undergraduate student living on campus and paying the Texas resident rate. For someone from out of state, it rises to $34,708. The difference between the two rates is $9,792 per year. This is an official budget, not a bill: it includes tuition and fees ($7,592 in-state, $17,384 out-of-state), on-campus housing and food ($10,330), books ($1,490), and an estimate of other expenses.
Compared with 483 similar universities, this total cost at the resident rate is among the lowest in the group. But ask exactly what requirements the institution uses to classify someone as a resident and when that classification takes effect: the rules are not the same everywhere.
The real price: what each family pays based on income
At Sul Ross State University, among 59 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $6,209. Among 35 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $10,614; among 22 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $20,654. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $14,445 between the average for the lowest-income band (59 students) and the average for the highest-income band (22 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $12,240.
Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same period coverage, Sul Ross falls in the least expensive quarter for lower-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a factor to weigh as you put together the list of schools to apply to.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average after grants and scholarships, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what matters.
How aid is distributed
69 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some type of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid, averaging $8,352 per year among recipients. Pell aid, reserved for families with demonstrated financial need, reached 52 out of every 100—more than half. Applying for income-based aid is not unusual here: do not hesitate to ask what documents are required and when they are due.
As for loans, 38 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in the 2022-23 school year, averaging $5,810 among borrowers. That puts Sul Ross in the middle of the range compared with similar universities: neither among those generating the most debt nor among those generating the least. This average covers a single year and only federal loans in the student’s name—it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from banks or credit cards, or the total debt someone has upon graduation.
Some students here go through the year without debt, while others borrow. This percentage does not determine which group your child will fall into; the written financial aid letter your child receives does. Wait for that letter before rejecting the school and before committing to it.
The institution also reports a guaranteed tuition plan and an installment payment plan, in case your family needs to spread the cost over the year.
Campus life: housing, sports, and support
Sul Ross has institution-owned housing, on or off campus, with capacity for 671 students. Living there is not mandatory for everyone. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed; request this year’s rate, the housing application deadline, and whether you are guaranteed a place or placed on a waiting list in writing.
In sports, Sul Ross does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with teams reported in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child is interested, contact the coach directly: ask whether there is a place on the team, which division they compete in, and whether that sport offers athletic scholarships.
Regarding ROTC, the university did not mark any opportunities in its most recent report, while 926 of 1,786 four-year universities did. That does not prove that no nearby pathway exists—it only means the university did not report one in that field. If that scholarship matters to your family, ask about it directly before assuming it is unavailable.
31 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes remotely—a high proportion compared with similar universities. That does not tell you whether your child’s major is offered online: some majors are almost entirely online, while others alongside them are almost entirely in person. Ask about the specific major.
The library has employed staff, physical and digital materials, and interlibrary lending. The institution also reports academic and career counseling services, employment assistance for current students and graduates, and a webpage dedicated to services for people with disabilities.
The hardest part: how many stay and how many finish
This is the section where you need to take a breath before reading, because the numbers are difficult and there is no honest way to soften them.
Out of every 100 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in 2022, 58 were still enrolled or had graduated one year later. That leaves 42 outside the official retention outcome. Compared with 519 similar universities, Sul Ross is among those retaining the smallest share of their entering cohort. The data do not say what happened to the rest: we do not know whether they transferred, paused their studies, started working, or had some other reason. Not appearing as retained does not mean that someone gave up.
The six-year graduation rate for students who entered in 2017 as full-time students with no prior college experience was 27 out of every 100. At four years, it was only 17 out of every 100. Compared with 518 similar universities, Sul Ross ranks at the very bottom of that table.
It is worth examining the full breakdown of those 328 students who entered in 2017, because it tells a more complete story than 27% alone: 90 graduated here, 114 transferred without completing at Sul Ross—and some did finish their degrees elsewhere, although that does not count for this school—8 were still enrolled without graduating by the end of the period, and 116 fell into the “no longer enrolled” category, which does not reveal the reason. This number covers the entire university; if your child is pursuing a specific major, request that rate directly from the department.
There is another measure that allows more time: at eight years, in a different cohort of 933 students who entered between 2015 and 2016—including full-time and part-time students, first-time students, and those with prior experience—40 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from Sul Ross. Compared with similar universities, it remains in the bottom quarter. Among students with Pell, the figure is identical: 40 out of every 100. And 34 out of every 100 had an “unknown” enrollment status at the reporting cutoff—that does not mean they were not studying elsewhere, only that the report could not determine their status.
These numbers carry weight. I am not softening them because doing so would mean misleading you. What you can do is read them alongside everything else you already know about this university: nearly anyone can get in, but finishing here—or anywhere else, because many students transfer—is a more difficult path than at most of its peers.
What we still do not know
This article cannot tell you what happens after a student graduates from Sul Ross: earnings, employment, or total accumulated debt. Those figures require another source and are not authorized here.
Putting the pieces together
You now have a clear view of Sul Ross: a public university in a remote Texas town that almost never closes the door to anyone, with a predominantly Latino community, a relatively low sticker price compared with its peers, and a net price that may be even lower if your family income is modest. You also know that retaining and graduating its students is where it struggles most, and that many who enter ultimately complete their path at another institution.
None of this tells you whether Sul Ross is the right university for your child. That depends on pieces only you and your child have: what your child wants to study, how far from home your child is willing to live, how much your family can afford, and how prepared your child is for an environment where admission is easy but persisting requires personal discipline. Your child is responsible for the effort, curiosity, and decision about a major. You are responsible for understanding the money, asking uncomfortable questions before signing anything, and waiting for the actual financial aid letter before deciding. Neither of you can do the other’s work.
With this information, you now know the terrain. The complete plan still needs the other two pieces: what your child wants and what you can afford together.
Source note: the information in this article comes from reports Sul Ross State University submitted to the US Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, except where a different period is indicated. Best College Aid does not represent Sul Ross State University or the federal government; this article organizes public data to help you understand it.