LEADERSHIP, SYSTEM & ACCREDITATION
Who runs Texas State — and how to verify it yourself
Before you send an application or pay anything to a university abroad, verify that it exists and is accredited. This page gives you everything you need to do that in five minutes, without taking anyone’s word for it.
228459
IPEDS ID (U.S. Department of Education)
SACSCOC
institutional accreditor
Public
part of the Texas State University System
txst.edu
official domain
Verify it yourself in five minutes
Three independent sources, controlled by neither the university nor us.
Verify it yourself in five minutes
- Open the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and look up IPEDS ID 228459 — it returns Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
- Check the accreditor shown: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- Look the university up again on the SACSCOC directory to confirm the accreditation is current.
- Check the official domain: txst.edu. In the United States a .edu domain is issued only to accredited institutions.
What accreditation means and why it decides things
The United States has no ministry that licenses universities the way many countries do. Instead, federally recognised independent accreditors evaluate and accredit each institution. Texas State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the institutional accreditor for the southern United States.
Institutional accreditation directly affects four things
- Whether your degree is recognised by employers and by graduate schools.
- Whether your credits transfer to another institution.
- Whether the university may enrol international students and issue an I-20.
- Whether your qualification can be recognised by authorities in your home country.
University leadership
The current president is Dr. Kelly Damphousse, the 10th president in the university’s history. In his official message he notes that since 2022 Texas State has been the fastest-growing university in Texas, expanding through the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses, online programs and community college partnerships, and points to two milestones being pursued: the move to the Pac-12 Conference and achieving Carnegie R1 research status.
The Texas State University System
Texas State belongs to the Texas State University System and is governed by a nine-member Board of Regents. The system comprises seven institutions across 17 locations, with more than 102,000 students and around 530,000 alumni. Other universities in the system include Sam Houston State University, Lamar University and Sul Ross State University.
| Level | Body | Role |
|---|---|---|
| State of Texas | Texas State University System | Public university system, seven institutions, 17 locations |
| System | Board of Regents (nine members) | The system’s governing body |
| University | Texas State University | President: Dr. Kelly Damphousse (10th president) |
| Campus | San Marcos · Round Rock | The two Texas campuses F-1 students attend |
The university’s mission
Texas State describes itself as "a public, student-centered research institution dedicated to excellence, discovery, and innovation", committed to creating new knowledge, embracing a diversity of people and ideas, fostering cultural and economic development, and educating students to participate fully and freely in the communities of Texas, the nation and the world. The current mission statement was approved by the President’s Cabinet on 14 August 2023.
The university’s five goals
Supporting student success
Putting student outcomes and graduation at the centre.
Advancing academic excellence
Strengthening programs and faculty.
Expanding discovery and research
Growing capacity for discovery, innovation and creative work.
Enriching community and partnerships
Deepening work with the region, industry and partner institutions.
Developing infrastructure and resources
Investing in facilities and resources that serve the first two goals.
Read more
Sources: the official Texas State University about page, the Office of the President, the Texas State University System, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard database (school ID 228459). The accreditor was cross-checked against two independent sources. txst.edu/about
Anything else you want verified?
Send the question to the Vietnam office — if we are not certain, we ask the university directly and come back to you in writing.