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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!

  • Callie Lynn

    Callie Lynn, a Stephen F. Austin State University biology graduate student from Rusk, represented SFA at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ Three Minute Thesis Competition Feb. 19-20 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Under the guidance of Dr. Jason Bruck, associate professor of biology at SFA, Lynn presented “The Dolphin Cocktail Party Effect: Did You Whistle My Name?” She competed against 66 master’s and doctoral students from across the southern region, earning a place among the 12 finalists. The 3MT competition challenges graduate students to communicate the significance of their research in just three minutes using a single static slide while emphasizing clarity, impact and accessibility to a broad audience.

  • Dr. Chad Thomas

    Stephen F. Austin State University announces the appointment of Dr. Chad Thomas as the institution’s associate vice president and dean of students. Thomas will assume the role April 30.

  • Stephen F. Austin State University’s campus master plan

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved Stephen F. Austin State University’s strategic plan, campus master plan and future Lumberjack Crossing residence hall during its Feb. 18-19 quarterly meeting in Austin.