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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 College Tour" host Alex Boylan and the series crew filming SFA's episode on campus in March 2025

    Stephen F. Austin State University is featured in the season 15 premiere of “The College Tour,” now streaming at TheCollegeTour.com and on Amazon Prime Video. Host Alex Boylan, pictured, and the series crew filmed SFA’s episode on campus in March.

  • Grammy-winning fiddler Eileen Ivers

    Stephen F. Austin State University’s Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts will welcome Grammy-winning fiddler Eileen Ivers back to campus for her holiday performance, “Joyful Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building.

  • Amanda Sheriff

    Amanda Sheriff, a soprano in opera and musical theater, will give the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University’s fall graduation ceremonies for undergraduates at 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in Johnson Coliseum. All master’s and doctoral candidates, including the members of SFA’s first Doctor of Social Work cohort, will receive their degrees during the Graduate Studies ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building.