Texas State University: 200+ programmes between Austin and San Antonio, with a no-IELTS route

Where a US university sits is not a matter of scenery. It decides where you intern, which employers you meet, and how far you have to look for work after graduation. That is the most useful thing to say about Texas State University.

Between two job markets

The main campus is in San Marcos, Texas — about 30 minutes from Austin and 45 minutes from San Antonio. Austin is a technology hub hosting offices of many large firms; San Antonio is strong in healthcare, defence and financial services. Students intern in both while still living on campus.

San Marcos itself is a college town: the San Marcos River runs through the campus, there are roughly 300 sunny days a year, and both housing and daily costs sit below the two neighbouring cities.

Size and programmes

The university enrols more than 45,000 students across over 200 programmes, with a history spanning more than 125 years. The fields international students most often choose include Business, Engineering, Computer Science, health disciplines and the Arts.

One point worth weighing while choosing: many of the university's programmes are on the STEM designated list, and STEM graduates may extend OPT to a total of 36 months rather than the standard 12. If your plan includes working in the US for a few years after graduation, that belongs in the decision before you pick a major, not after.

The TSIE English pathway

The university runs the TSIE intensive English programme and an Online ESL version. Completing the pathway satisfies the English requirement for degree entry, with no IELTS or TOEFL needed.

As with any such route, the trade is time and the cost of the English semesters. In exchange you arrive earlier and settle into the academic environment before the degree itself begins.

VNIS and Texas State

VNIS Education is an Authorized Recruiter for Texas State University in Vietnam. We help with choosing a major, the application and visa preparation; admission decisions rest with the university and visa decisions with US consular authorities.