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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!

  • Kiel Garrett, graduate student in professional counseling from San Antonio; Katelyn Defrancis, forestry wildlife management senior from Deer Park; Holli Heim '25, SFA agriculture alumna; and Amie Beam, aviation sciences junior from Tyler.

    Three Stephen F. Austin State University students and one alumna represented SFA at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Scholars Transforming through Research conference and visited Texas senators’ offices to advocate for undergraduate research during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Pictured, from left, are Kiel Garrett, graduate student in professional counseling from San Antonio; Katelyn Defrancis, forestry wildlife management senior from Deer Park; Holli Heim '25, SFA agriculture alumna; and Amie Beam, aviation sciences junior from Tyler. Dr. Sarah Straub, associate professor of education studies and faculty mentor for the CUR STR cohort, also traveled with the group.

  • two students tend to houseplants that will be available during the plant fair

    Students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s horticulture program and the SFA Horticulture Club will host the annual student-run Spring Plant Fair from 8 to 3 p.m. April 11 at the SFA Plantery, located at 1924 Wilson Drive behind the Agriculture Building. Pictured, two students tend to houseplants that will be available during the plant fair.

  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

    Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will interview acclaimed actor and Texas native Dennis Quaid for the fifth installment of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. April 9 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on campus. The event, sponsored by SFA’s Rusche College of Business, is free and open to the public. Tickets, which are required for entry, are available at the Charles Bright Visitor Center in downtown Nacogdoches or on campus at the Baker Pattillo Student Center information desk and the McGee Business Building, Room 137.