•AVERAGE: 69
A small, private institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America denomination, Texas Lutheran University is a highly-regarded Christian liberal arts school. Located midway between Austin and San Antonio, in Sequin, TX (one of the oldest towns in the state), Texas Lutheran is one of the most respected universities in its class, ranked #2 by U.S. News & World Report among regional institutions in the West. Founded in 1891, Texas Lutheran has survived adversities over a long history, and looks primed to take the 21st century in stride.
Academic Programs
Texas Lutheran’s curriculum is built around their general education foundation, a program which they call Compass. Based in the traditional liberal arts values of broad and deep understanding of the major fields of knowledge (such as humanities, sciences, and social sciences), the Compass is designed around key competencies like creative thinking, communication, ethics, and citizenship. As an evangelical Christian university, faith is central, including a wide exposure to different Christian traditions and perspectives.Texas Lutheran is particularly known for their School of Music, which is specially accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is widely recognized as one of the best music schools in the region. The university’s small size and low student to faculty ratio gives students the opportunity to engage in significant undergraduate research as well, in the sciences (chemistry, physics, and biology), political science, and humanities, including the Write to Serve program in which students write grant proposals for community service initiatives.
Student Life
Texas Lutheran’s student body is diverse, with students representing not just Texas, but 23 states and eight nations. Women slightly outnumber men by 4%, and though founded by the Lutheran church, only around 15% of students are actually Lutheran. As a Texas university, a third of Texas Lutheran’s students are Hispanic, and 10% are African-American, reflecting Texas’ diversity and Texas Lutheran’s commitment to fairness and service. The university’s combination of cost and reputation has also won recognition from U.S. News & World Report as a best value.As a Christian institution, community engagement is crucial to Texas Lutheran’s education and vision, and the university has been recognized multiple years by the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The Center for Servant Leadership organizes student outreach and activities. Texas Lutheran also cultivates a strong community of its own, with many activities and organizations for students, many of them framed around Christian values and interests.