SFA ranks among top universities in student ‘flourishing,’ national survey finds

Stephen F. Austin State University ranks among the top universities in the nation for helping students grow in wisdom, integrity and leadership, according to data from The Wall Street Journal Survey of U.S. Colleges and Universities 2025.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin State University ranks among the top universities in the nation for helping students grow in wisdom, integrity and leadership, according to data from The Wall Street Journal Survey of U.S. Colleges and Universities 2025.

The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University's Institute for Quantitative Social Science analyzed the survey results as part of its Academic Flourishing Initiative. A chart created by the program shows SFA placed in the top 30 of nearly 430 universities based on Lumberjacks' belief that their college experience helped them become wiser, more just and better equipped to "positively change the world."

On a scale from zero (has not helped) to 10 (has helped a lot), SFA earned an average score between 8.6 and 8.7 based on student and recent graduate answers to the question "To what extent has university life helped you to become more wise?" SFA averaged between 8.2 and 8.3 for the question "To what extent has university life helped you to become more just?" and between 8.3 and 8.4 for the question "To what extent has university life helped equip you to positively change the world?"

By comparison, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin all averaged between 7.9 and 8.0 for the question "To what extent has university life helped you to become more wise?" Harvard University scored between 7.6 and 7.7 for the same question.

"Graduation rates and earnings matter, but understanding how students grow in critical thinking, collaboration, civic-mindedness and leadership, as well as whether they are finding a greater sense of meaning and purpose, is equally important," said Dr. Marc Guidry, associate provost at SFA. "By providing an education that is based on both enduring values and specific skills, and combining it with caring support services, we help students from all backgrounds become more well-rounded, engaged citizens."

Harvard's Academic Flourishing Initiative is a member-sponsored research collaborative aimed at promoting student growth and well-being in higher education. With more knowledge on the factors contributing to flourishing in educational environments, such as those listed in the 2024 paper "Metrics for education for flourishing: A framework," member institutions can better understand their strengths and areas for improvement, according to the initiative. Its three main goals are:

• carry out new research on academic flourishing
• improve university leaders' ability to influence and promote student flourishing
• and advance a community of practice in higher education oriented toward human flourishing.

Though SFA is not a member of Harvard's Academic Flourishing Initiative research collaborative, university leaders are closely tracking how students describe their experiences as Lumberjacks. Recent results from the National Survey of Student Engagement show SFA students rate their engagement, academic advising and mental health and well-being support higher than their peers at both state and national levels.

"In our programming and services at SFA's Health and Wellness Hub, we try to consider how we can meet students where they are and support the skills they need to be successful when they no longer have access to free counseling services or a low-cost health clinic with free visits. This helps create a solid foundation for the lasting success of our graduates," said Dr. Christina Tuell, assistant vice president for health and well-being. "As students continue to evolve, so will their reasons for choosing a university, and this is a metric that sets us apart."

Part of SFA's high ranking comes from how deeply students engage with their campus communities, said Dr. Lacey Folsom, associate dean of students - Involvement.

"While it's easier to quantify academic success than the benefits of engagement, student perception surveys help us shape meaningful experiences for our Lumberjacks - both during their time here and after they graduate," Folsom said. "Whether it's celebrating school spirit and traditions, developing leadership skills or volunteering in the Nacogdoches community, students consistently tell us that feeling connected helps them grow into better people."

Many of those connections are built through programs that bring together student communities across the Lumberjack family, said Dr. Veronica Beavers, associate dean of students - Student Development and Access Services. These groups provide spaces where students can support one another, overcome challenges, and work closely with SFA faculty and staff to ensure they have access to the services and resources they need.

"Many of our students are parents, veterans or the first in their families to attend college, and their paths through higher education can look different from those of traditional students," Beavers said. "SFA strives to create a welcoming environment - whether that means supporting parenting or pregnant students, helping veterans transition from military to campus life, or connecting students with peer and faculty mentors or disability services - so that every Lumberjack has the opportunity to flourish now and in the future."

For more information on life as a Lumberjack, SFA's academic support programs and the university's efforts to improve students' well-being, visit sfasu.edu/campuslife.