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Lumberjacks Make Great

Become Great at SFA

Have a dream career or a major in mind? Still undecided? With more than 120 areas of interest at SFA,
you can find your path to becoming great.

VISIT ACADEMICS

Fast Facts

#1 Regional Texas
Public School

in the U.S. News &
World Report
Best Colleges
rankings.
July 2025

$2.73 million
portfolio

managed by
Mast Student
Investment
Roundtable
Lumberjacks

September 2025

Approximately
200,000 sq. ft. of
new construction

upgraded dining and
academic facilities
over the next two years
May 2025

Study Abroad
with scholarships

10 faculty-led programs
13 destinations
162 students
July 2025

Explore your passions, meet our faculty

Select an area of interest and discover how we inspire success – one Lumberjack at a time.

SFA Traditions

The Axe Handle

SFA freshmen receive an axe handle to personalize with their own Lumberjack spirit. Students can be seen (and heard) banging axe handles on the bleachers at SFA football games.

 

Ole Cotton

Ole Cotton is an imposing 75mm cannon that fires a celebratory shot every time the SFA Lumberjack football team scores. The SFA ROTC cadets man Ole Cotton just beyond the south end zone at Homer Bryce Stadium. The powerful blast can be heard – and often felt – all over town.

 

The Homecoming Bonfire

SFA's traditional bonfire and pep rally are the centerpieces of homecoming. Usually held in October, homecoming is a series of traditions that bring Lumberjacks together to celebrate SFA. Other events include homecoming elections, downtown parade, football games and much more.

 

Purple Haze

Press play to hear our rowdy Purple Haze student section in action. At SFA’s home football games, fans in the student section loudly bang their axe handles on a metal “Purple Haze” sign to show support for our beloved Lumberjacks (and to rattle the opposing team). Now that’s a home-field advantage!

  • The minor planet (102216) Carona orbits around the sun in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

    An asteroid discovered at the Stephen F. Austin State University Observatory in Nacogdoches in 1999 has been officially named Carona in honor of late Texas A&M University astronomer Don Carona. Image credit: Dr. Dan Bruton

  • Dr. Dana Solomon

    Stephen F. Austin State University has appointed Dr. Dana Solomon as principal and superintendent of SFA Charter School. Solomon will begin her tenure during the summer.  

  • Wood attended the ACE building groundbJreaking June 22 with, from left, Monica Loa, ACE associate director; Dr. Amy Mehaffey, associate professor of practice in entrepreneurship in SFA’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business; Dr. Raymond ones, director of SFA’s entrepreneurship academic program; Dr. Todd Brown, SFA associate vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships; and John Chambers, ACE recruiting and marketing specialist.

    Tim L. Wood, pictured fourth from left, has been named entrepreneur in residence for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. Wood attended the ACE building groundbreaking June 22 with, from left, Monica Loa, ACE associate director; Dr. Amy Mehaffey, associate professor of practice in entrepreneurship in SFA’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business; Dr. Raymond Jones, director of SFA’s entrepreneurship academic program; Dr. Todd Brown, SFA associate vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Hollie Smith, ACE executive director of community partnerships; and John Chambers, ACE recruiting and marketing specialist.