Quick Stats
Location: Alpine, TX
Closest Big City/Airport: Midland, TX
School Size: 1,847
Athletic Division: NCAA DIII
Athletic Conference: ASC (American Southwest Conference)
Tuition & Fees : In: $8,777 // Out: $21,047
Total Cost of Attendance: In: $23,720// Out: $36,213
Average Cost After Aid: $12,000
Percent of Financial Aid Need Met: Unknown
Average High School GPA: 3.3
Average SAT/ACT Combined: SAT - 940 // ACT - 18
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Popular Degrees: Multi-Studies, Business, Homeland Security
Personal Tour Blog
Before we get started, let’s address the elephant in the room. Sul Ross State is in Alpine, Texas. Google Alpine, Texas just to get a scope of how rural that city is. Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s discuss some of the cool things this west texas college can offer you. Out in deep West Texas, roughly an hour from the Mexico border and Big Bend National Park, Sul Ross State sits in the city of Alpine. You’ve probably never heard of Alpine before, but you may have heard of its sister city, Marfa. Everyone knows someone who has traveled to Marfa, Texas to take their picture with the Prada store (which is actually in Valentine, Texas for those that care), and Alpine is the city you drive through to get there. If you blink at the right time, you may fly right past the city of Alpine without seeing it. It’s a rural town, with not much to it outside of the school and historic Kokernot field - where the Sul Ross Baseball team competes. You’ll never accidentally stumble upon the school, but once you’ve made the drive, you are rewarded with some of the most beautiful sunsets and scenery a person could ever dream of. It may not be a bustling city like New York or Austin, but those who enjoy a slower pace of life, a connection to nature, and the chance to know their town population by name rather than a number, would love a city like Alpine. Sul Ross used to be a teacher’s college, and it has kept that philosophy alive as it grows into a more diverse institution. Most students are multi-studies majors, which generally combines some level of teaching degree with a specific discipline that helps prepare the future teacher for preferred subjects. Given the proximity to the Mexico border, Homeland Security is a popular major choice for Sul Ross students. Sul Ross is a public school, so tuition is much larger for out-of-state students. Most students at Sul Ross are Texas residents, but they did accept students from 19 different countries this past semester. Sports at Sul Ross bring the city and school together. The baseball team plays at historic Kokernot Field, and the football team has an excellent turf stadium as well. They compete at the DIII level in the American Southwest Conference. Fair Warning, all bus rides are long when you live in Alpine. Sul Ross is a school I would have never visited if I was not headed to Marfa already, but I’m so glad I did. While it may be one of those colleges that I find myself suggesting to very specific students, those who connect with West Texas and the campus will love every moment of their college experience.
Fun Facts
- The Animal Science department has its own butcher shop called the Sul Ross meat market that is used for students to get hands-on experience with meat processing
- There is a notable hike behind campus called “The Desk” that overlooks the campus and surrounding area, with a desk placed on the hill from a previous student
Athlete Fun Fact
The Sul Ross baseball team plays their games at Kokernot Field, a famous ballpark built in 1947 that hosted big leaguers like Satchel Paige
Sports Offered
Men- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Tennis
- Soccer
Women- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
About #TourTuesdays
Throughout the next few months, we are going to highlight various colleges and universities across the globe, some of which you may not have even heard of. Although we have no affiliation with any of these programs, we hope these tour notes will help you discover a new option, learn something new about a school you already know, or encourage you to explore a different type of institution that you otherwise wouldn't have explored.
