Located in San Marcos - which lies between Austin and San Antonia - Texas State University-San Marcos is one of the 75 largest universities in the U.S., and is the largest campus in the Texas State University System. Founded as the Southwest Texas State Normal School at the turn of the 20th century, the school that began with 303 students has grown to house nearly 28,000.

The school has also expanded considerably to encompass a 456-acre main campus and 5,000 acres of additional space for recreation, instruction, ranches, and farmland. With its location at the edge of Texas Hill Country, the university enjoys a unique landscape made complete by the nearby San Marcos River and majestic cypress and pecan trees that grace the campus.

Though Texas State University-San Marcos was originally founded with the purpose of preparing Texas public school teachers, it has become a multipurpose university, offering nine different colleges, 115 undergraduate programs, 84 master's programs, and six Ph.D. graduate degree programs.