Saint Edward's University (SEU)

St. Edward’s University is a smaller liberal arts college in Austin, Texas with a "Catholic heritage" and a "left-wing" bent. Thanks to a broad set of distribution requirements, all students receive a "well-rounded" education. Everyone here is pretty happy about that, though some students complain that a required series of interdisciplinary courses called Cultural Foundations serves "absolutely no purpose." Beyond the core curriculum, St. Ed’s offers more than 50 areas of study including a "good business program" and a "fantastic" theater program. The Kozmetsky Center for Global Finance brings renowned guest speakers to campus. The "expansionist" administration gets good marks for its generous financial aid packages but mixed reviews otherwise. Academically, St. Ed’s "really does try to make learning as painless as possible." "Classes are small and intimate." Expect to write "a lot of papers," too. Students generally love the "contagiously enthusiastic" and "very knowledgeable" faculty. "I’ve only had two professors who should have their Ph.D. revoked," reflects a sociology major. Profs are "extremely approachable" as well. "I can walk into my Shakespeare professor’s office, which is essentially a nineteenth century porch, unannounced, and talk about poetry," brags an English major.

While it’s "mostly Texas kids," "a diverse group of people" makes up "the unique fabric that is St. Edward’s." "There is virtually every subculture and personality type imaginable." "There is rarely a group of people talking who all look alike," observes a junior. There are "colorful, unkempt hippies." There’s the "free spirited," the "eclectic," the "eccentric," and the "weird." There are "lots of dude bros" and "bleach blond" females. Still other students are "preppy." There are "many Hispanic students" as well as "foreign students from many areas of the world." With all of that said, St. Ed’s is "a hipster haven." The primary stereotype here is "liberal indie" kids who "like to dress retro and have upper-middle class parents."

This "beautiful and inviting" hilltop campus offers "one of the best views of Austin." The main building "highly resembles Hogwarts." The food on campus is "extremely expensive," though, and the recreational facilities "could use a lot of help." Socially, "the vibe is pretty relaxed." The student body "tends to lack any sort of school spirit." Drug and alcohol policies are severe, and St. Ed’s is "not at all a party school." At the same time, drinking is "pretty big." "Marijuana users are pretty common." Cigarettes also enjoy widespread popularity. Social life usually happens off campus. Austin is "truly nirvana" for undergraduates. It’s "the live music capital of the world," after all. The St. Ed’s campus is situated very near "the artsy, funky strip of South Austin" where "quirky" shops and "really good restaurants" abound. "Most students take full advantage of the nightlife and general amazingness" that this vibrant city offers. "There is never a shortage of fun to be had," promises a junior.