Sul Ross State University
West Texas’ affordable gem of higher education
“This is a cool place; my first impressions were right.”
BY Steve Lang
A relaxed time of reading at the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library at Sul Ross.
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Cost ranks high among the top 10 reasons for choosing an institution of higher education, and Sul Ross State University has gained a national reputation for affordability.
A US News and World Report survey ranks Sul Ross as the fourth-lowest-priced for in-state tuition and fees during the 2013-2014 academic year. Sul Ross’ resident tuition and fees of $4,754 ranked behind only the University of Wyoming ($4,404); Elizabeth City (N.C.) State University ($4,428); and Louisiana State University-Alexandria ($4,617). No other Texas public universities were ranked in the top 10 list. In comparison, resident tuition and required fees at public universities averaged $8,539 for 2013-2014, compared to $19,465 for non-residents, based on data reported by 403 ranked public colleges in an annual U.S. News survey. Another prominent collegiate website has ranked Sul Ross high on the “A-List” for Affordability, Accessibility and Academic Excellence. While low cost remains a significant part of the equation, Sul Ross meets or exceeds other selection criteria as well, including: desired majors, student and faculty diversity, small class sizes, and strong graduate school and/or job placement records. “I can think of numerous reasons – perhaps one for every enrolled student – for attending Sul Ross State University,” said Dr. Quint Thurman, interim President. “I believe that Sul Ross would be highly ranked on a similar virtue if we were to talk about value since we have the best residential housing in Texas, wonderful instructors and staff, very small classes where faculty get to know every student by name, and arguably the best year- around weather in the country,” he said. Thurman added, “Students attending Sul Ross and our alumni necessarily must be some of the wisest people on earth for having made such a good decision to attend college here. We can hear some of the reasons from our students themselves.” |
“My cousins all graduated from Sul Ross, so I was very familiar with the university. It was really affordable for me, compared to going to UTEP (University of Texas El Paso) or elsewhere. I have never had to worry how to pay for my education; between scholarships and work study, there has always been a plan that is workable for me.
“I love the faculty; they are all helpful; the faculty and staff, no matter who it is, are always there to help you.
“I love the Sul Ross environment. There is always something to do. The campus community is very friendly and very loving.
“This is my home; I plan to stay here for my Master’s degree (in psychology), then attend the University of Washington for my doctorate and later establish a clinical psychology practice. Sul Ross provides a solid base for my future career.”
“I had been out here before with my mom. I loved the area and decided I wanted to live here some day.
“I attended a community college and decided I wanted to be a geology major. I Googled geology schools and when I found Sul Ross, I was ecstatic. It is one of the best geology schools in the state, and the area is definitely conducive to the subject matter.
“I love my professors: they are engaging, friendly and want me to be here. Sul Ross is a good place to be active. I have two on-campus jobs that I love, I am a member of the Geology Club and involved in undergraduate research (McNair Program). And the classes are hard.”
“This is a cool place; my first impressions were right.”
“I started out at UTEP, but it was too big. A coach who knew me from high school called me and offered me a chance to play football. I accepted, even though I had never visited Alpine.
“I love the faculty; they are all helpful; the faculty and staff, no matter who it is, are always there to help you.
“I love the Sul Ross environment. There is always something to do. The campus community is very friendly and very loving.
“This is my home; I plan to stay here for my Master’s degree (in psychology), then attend the University of Washington for my doctorate and later establish a clinical psychology practice. Sul Ross provides a solid base for my future career.”
“I had been out here before with my mom. I loved the area and decided I wanted to live here some day.
“I attended a community college and decided I wanted to be a geology major. I Googled geology schools and when I found Sul Ross, I was ecstatic. It is one of the best geology schools in the state, and the area is definitely conducive to the subject matter.
“I love my professors: they are engaging, friendly and want me to be here. Sul Ross is a good place to be active. I have two on-campus jobs that I love, I am a member of the Geology Club and involved in undergraduate research (McNair Program). And the classes are hard.”
“This is a cool place; my first impressions were right.”
“I started out at UTEP, but it was too big. A coach who knew me from high school called me and offered me a chance to play football. I accepted, even though I had never visited Alpine.
“I really like the place. Alpine is a small town; about the size of the town I grew up in, and at Sul Ross, the classes are small and very hands-on. The professors know you as a person and they are always available to help you.
“As a student-athlete (football/track and field), I want to help the athletics program improve, and I want to lead by example on and off the field. I plan to coach after graduation because I enjoy working with kids and I hope to be a good mentor and counselor.
“Sul Ross is a great place to get an education. It is very affordable and there are all kinds of sources here to help you. It’s a great place to get a degree.”
“I first became interested in Sul Ross in middle school and I concentrated more on (attending) in high school. My dad was doing private investigation work and I accompanied him out here. I thought the campus was gorgeous.
“I just got fixated on it. Sul Ross is way out in the middle of nowhere and that’s what I liked.
“The campus is small; I come from a small school and I wanted to come to a more cozy environment.
“It is very affordable; I am not taking any loans (to pay for my education).
“College rodeo started here. I have loved to work horses all my life, and this is huge ranch and horseman territory; it just felt like home to me.
“This school is the outdoor experience. This is a peaceful place, but it has so much history; everyone has a story to tell, and since I want to be a journalist, this is ideal.”
“I first became interested in Sul Ross in middle school and I concentrated more on (attending) in high school. My dad was doing private investigation work and I accompanied him out here. I thought the campus was gorgeous.
“I just got fixated on it. Sul Ross is way out in the middle of nowhere and that’s what I liked.
“The campus is small; I come from a small school and I wanted to come to a more cozy environment.
“It is very affordable; I am not taking any loans (to pay for my education).
“College rodeo started here. I have loved to work horses all my life, and this is huge ranch and horseman territory; it just felt like home to me.
“This school is the outdoor experience. This is a peaceful place, but it has so much history; everyone has a story to tell, and since I want to be a journalist, this is ideal.”
Students help each other at one of the many computer facilities available to students.
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Cordrick Mobley, Cameron, Kinesiology and Sports Science major, member of Lobo football and track and field teams:
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“I transferred to Sul Ross from Southwest Texas Junior College and immediately became involved in the McNair Program.The McNair Program has been extremely instrumental to my success and getting me in the right mind-set for graduate school.
“The Natural Resource Management program offers one of the best learning environments I have ever been in. I have visited other campuses and their programs and Sul Ross surpasses all of them. As students, we are all really good friends. We can work with each other on problem-solving on projects, we volunteer to help on each other’s projects whenever needed, and all in all, we are a tight-knit group.
“Our professors, especially Dr. (Louis) Harveson and Dr. (Bonnie) Warnock are some of the hardest-working individuals I have ever seen in my life. They have a lot on their plates, but always find ways to get the jobs done. Yet, they always take time for students, from freshmen to graduates. They are true inspirations for the students.
“I appreciate the confidence that has been placed in me; to undertake a graduate research project as an undergrad. Because of Sul Ross and the McNair Program, I have learned to carry myself in a professional atmosphere, including conducting research, presenting at conferences, networking and problem-solving. The McNair Program really started that foundation. You get whatever you put into it, and I feel I have really benefitted from my efforts.” aT
“The Natural Resource Management program offers one of the best learning environments I have ever been in. I have visited other campuses and their programs and Sul Ross surpasses all of them. As students, we are all really good friends. We can work with each other on problem-solving on projects, we volunteer to help on each other’s projects whenever needed, and all in all, we are a tight-knit group.
“Our professors, especially Dr. (Louis) Harveson and Dr. (Bonnie) Warnock are some of the hardest-working individuals I have ever seen in my life. They have a lot on their plates, but always find ways to get the jobs done. Yet, they always take time for students, from freshmen to graduates. They are true inspirations for the students.
“I appreciate the confidence that has been placed in me; to undertake a graduate research project as an undergrad. Because of Sul Ross and the McNair Program, I have learned to carry myself in a professional atmosphere, including conducting research, presenting at conferences, networking and problem-solving. The McNair Program really started that foundation. You get whatever you put into it, and I feel I have really benefitted from my efforts.” aT
