A Jack Walker leads a campus tour for students and their families at Stephen F. Austin State University. SFA recently broke its single-day application record with 2,700 submitted applications. The university is waiving application fees through December 1.
October 22, 2025 – Stephen F. Austin State University recently broke its single-day application record with 2,700 submitted applications thanks in part to Free College Application Week.
Administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the second full week of October, the initiative helps Texas residents apply to public colleges at no cost.
“This is part of the statewide push to make college more accessible for all Texans, with SFA leading the way,” said Dr. Kent Willis, senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement. “SFA will continue to waive application fees through December 1.”
Willis credited the record-breaking numbers in part to SFA’s 2023 affiliation with The University of Texas System, which has expanded the university’s reach, reputation and resources.
“This milestone is a tangible result of our partnership with the UT System,” Willis said. “Our Purple Promise program and transfer pathway initiatives are opening doors for rural, first-generation and transfer students who want to earn their degrees at SFA.”
Purple Promise, which covers tuition and fees for high school and transfer students with a family income of $100,000 or less, and expanded transfer pathways from community colleges are helping more Texans access an SFA education.
Many students have shared that these initiatives have made earning a college degree not only possible but deeply meaningful — especially for those who are the first in their families to attend a university or who come from small, rural communities. For many, SFA’s supportive and connected campus culture has been a deciding factor in their college choice.
“It was the small-campus feel, the energy on campus, and how involved the faculty are with students that really drew me to SFA,” said Kason Cauley, a first-year human resource management student from Denton.
Billy Stewart, a kinesiology transfer student from Tyler Junior College, said the encouragement of his former high school coaches — who are also SFA alumni — helped guide his decision to become a Lumberjack.
“The friendly campus environment and amazing academic support and mentorship opportunities, along with being part of the Lumberjack Transfer Alliance, have all made my transition to SFA seamless,” Stewart said.
SFA faculty and staff are working hard to share the qualities Cauley and Stewart love about being a Lumberjack with prospective students across the nation.
“For years, many have seen SFA as Texas’ best-kept secret,” said Dr. J.D. Salas, director of SFA’s School of Music. “Today, our faculty and staff are working hard to change that by showing students across Texas and beyond just how much they matter here.
“Every new student who joins our campus brings a spark of curiosity and possibility,” Salas continued. “They don’t just fill our classrooms — they energize our community with fresh perspectives that fuel innovation and growth.”
Like faculty, staff and students, Willis said he’s excited about the university’s momentum.
“This means more highly qualified applicants, more opportunities and a stronger Lumberjack community.”
To apply to SFA by December 1 and have your application fee waived, 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.
