Nacogdoches calls itself the oldest town in Texas, and it sits deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, under three hours north-east of Houston. Stephen F. Austin State University opened there in 1923 and joined the University of Texas System in 2023. Forestry is its signature subject, taught in the forests around town. Business, nursing, education and the sciences are also well represented.
Nacogdoches, Texas, United States
Official website: sfasu.edu
1923
University of Texas System since 2023
Public university
Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
$20,000 – $25,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on sfasu.edu before you apply.
BS Forestry
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
MS Environmental Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Biotechnology
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Forestry and agriculture taught in the East Texas pine forests.
A campus with its own gardens and arboretum.
Low living costs in a small, historic town.
Forestry graduates work for timber companies, government agencies and conservation groups.
Business and science graduates find roles in Houston, Dallas and East Texas.
STEM graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus mixes pine trees and red-brick buildings, and the SFA Gardens are open to everyone. Most first-year students live on campus.
Nacogdoches is a quiet town of about 30,000 with brick streets downtown. Rent is low. Houston and Dallas, each about three hours away, have the nearest big airports.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
SFA reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Apply by about June for fall and November for spring to allow time for the I-20 and visa. Some graduate programmes set earlier dates.
Most programmes start in fall (late August) and spring (January). A few graduate courses admit in summer.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Stephen F Austin State University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Forestry, computer science, environmental science, biotechnology and the MBA are popular with international students. Undergraduates need secondary school results and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79. Graduate applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree, and some programmes ask for GRE or GMAT scores.
SFA offers competitive scholarships to international students, and in Texas some scholarship holders can pay in-state tuition rates. Ask the international office which awards you qualify for.
