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U.S. News #38 Private nonprofit, 4-year

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas · new.trinity.edu

中文

U.S. News Liberal Arts 2027

#38

Down 1 from 2026

Acceptance rate

25.9%

2025

Peer median 29.3%

Tuition per year

$53,676

$68,426 with room and board

Peer median $66,432

Undergraduates

2,518

Student-faculty ratio 8:1

Peer median 9 : 1

Graduation rate

67.1%

4-year; 6-year rate 75.8%

Peer median 80.5%

“Peers” are the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.

About

Trinity University is an independent, private non-profit undergraduate-focused institution located in San Antonio, Texas. Established with a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the university operates on an urban campus near the heart of the city. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Trinity placed 38th nationally, reflecting its position among the country's prominent liberal arts institutions. While primarily dedicated to undergraduate education in the arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields, Trinity also maintains select graduate programs that have garnered notable national recognition. In particular, its graduate health care management curriculum ranked 19th in 2023 and 23rd in 2026 by U.S. News. With its combination of residential liberal arts education, specialized professional pathways, and historic regional roots, Trinity offers an intimate academic setting within the seventh-largest city in the United States.

Trinity University pairs private liberal arts schooling with published tuition below many peer institutions. For 2025, undergraduate tuition was $53,676. When evaluating educational value, families must balance these costs against academic completion timelines. The university recorded a four-year graduation rate of 67.1% in 2025, while its six-year graduation rate reached 75.8%. When measured against a peer group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges, Trinity's six-year graduation rate was higher than 7% of peer schools. Although retention from first to second year remains solid, completion within six years lags behind the peer median. For applicants and parents, these outcomes mean that while initial annual tuition is moderate for a national liberal arts college, a notable share of students takes longer to graduate. Planning for educational expenses should therefore account for potential fifth or sixth years of study.

This collegeRanked colleges nearby

Setting
Large city
Nearest major city
In San Antonio
Nearest international airport
San Antonio International Airport (SAT), about 5 mi
San Antonio, Texas
Also known as
Trinity
Academic calendar
Semester
Religious affiliation
Presbyterian Church (USA)
President
Vanessa Beasley (President)
Phone
2109997011
City
San Antonio, Texas
Address
One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200

Rankings & Admission

Acceptance rate (%)

Peer median 29.3% · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges

Acceptance rate by gender, 2025

Men
24.8%
Women
26.8%

In 2020: men 30.5%, women 27.4%.

U.S. News Liberal Arts Colleges · last 10 years
#33 #41 #49 #57 2023: #55 2024: #59 #59 2025: #40 2026: #37 #37 2027: #38 #38 20232027

Best #37, lowest #59, latest #38 over the last ten years.

Data insights

Trinity University has grown increasingly selective in recent cycles, rising in the U.S. News Best Liberal Arts Colleges ranking to 38th in 2027 from 55th in 2023. Gaining admission has become challenging as applicant interest expands. In 2025, Trinity admitted 25.9% of its applicant pool. Compared to a peer group of 30 private liberal arts colleges with similar rankings, Trinity's acceptance rate was higher than 37% of peer schools, reflecting tighter selection than most comparable institutions. However, the university experiences a modest draw once offers are made. The yield rate in 2025 was 20.1%, meaning about one in five admitted students chose to attend, a figure higher than 33% of peer schools. With roughly four out of five admitted students declining their offers, Trinity must compete actively against rival private institutions to build its incoming class. For prospective students, these trends demonstrate that while securing admission requires strong credentials, the school remains eager to attract admitted applicants who demonstrate genuine interest.

School and Program Rankings

U.S. News school and program rankings · Click a school to see its programs, and a program for its full ranking

Undergraduate Rankings · 2027 edition

Business School#262▼8 Computer Science#319▲42

Graduate Rankings · 2026 edition

Health Specialty1 programs—

Ranks in blue are top 10 · ▲▼ change from the previous edition · “—” means no overall ranking for that school · Medical schools are ranked in tiers since the 2025 edition

Test Scores

2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 29% submitted SAT, 14% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted

SAT total1340–1500Peer median 1410
ACT composite31–34
SAT Reading
680–750
600700800
SAT Math
660–750
600700800
ACT composite
31–34
253036

Data insights

Admissions at Trinity University require competitive academic preparation. For the enrolled class in 2025, the median SAT score was 1405. When compared to a peer group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges, Trinity's median SAT score was higher than 45% of peer schools. Among students reporting ACT results, the middle fifty percent scored between 31 and 34 on the composite examination. These testing metrics reflect a student body with strong academic performance in secondary school. Enrolled students generally align closely with peer institutions in standardized evaluation benchmarks. Prospective applicants preparing their files should target standardized results within or above these mid-ranges to remain competitive alongside typical matriculating students, while pairing their test performance with a strong high school curriculum and consistent course rigor across core subjects.

How Hard Is It to Get In

about 3 in 10

12,506 applicants in 2025, 25.9% admitted

3,241 admitted 9,265 not admitted Yield 20.1%

Degrees & Majors

Graduates in 2025 (first major)

Bachelor's62631 international (5.0%)
Master's1142 international (1.8%)
Top 10 Bachelor's majors by graduates
Accounting
50
Computer and Information Sciences, General
45
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
41
Mass Communication/Media Studies
39
Finance, General
38
Neuroscience
32
Political Science and Government, General
31
Engineering Science
29
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
29
Sociology, General
22

U.S. studentsInternational

Popular graduate programs

  • Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management · Master's31 (0% international)
  • Educational Leadership and Administration, General · Master's27 (0% international)
  • Accounting · Master's26 (4% international)
  • School Psychology · Master's12 (0% international)
  • Secondary Education and Teaching · Master's9 (0% international)
  • Elementary Education and Teaching · Master's5 (20% international)

Data insights

Trinity University offers a distributed curriculum where undergraduate degrees are not heavily concentrated. In 2025, the top three bachelor's majors accounted for 21.7% of all undergraduate degrees, led by Accounting with 50 graduates and Computer and Information Sciences, General. The largest undergraduate fields are not the school's highest-ranked offerings; undergraduate business and computer science hold lower national standings in the U.S. News rankings. Instead, Trinity’s most prominent ranked specialty is graduate-level Health Care Management, which U.S. News ranked 23rd in 2026. Career outcomes for undergraduate technical fields remain strong regardless of program rank. In 2023 earnings data, bachelor's degree recipients in Computer and Information Sciences, General earned a median first-year salary of $91,857. For prospective applicants, Trinity provides balanced academic choices where pre-professional and STEM degrees lead to solid early-career compensation despite modest undergraduate department rankings.

All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard

*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes

Businesshas 190 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Business Administration and Management, General.-
Accounting.$74,013
Finance, General.$72,138
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General.-
International Business/Trade/Commerce.-
Management Science.$66,851
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other.$66,851
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.$55,823
Biologyhas 85 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.-
Biochemistry.-
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology.-
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.-
Neuroscience.-
Social sciencehas 84 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Anthropology, General.-
Economics, General.$59,310
Development Economics and International Development.$59,310
International Relations and Affairs.-
Political Science and Government, General.$35,478
Sociology, General.-
Urban Studies/Affairs.-
Psychology has 53 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other.$38,107
School Psychology.-
Computer and information sciencehas 45 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Computer and Information Sciences, General.$91,857
Educationhas 45 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Educational Leadership and Administration, General.$69,848
Elementary Education and Teaching.$57,180
Secondary Education and Teaching.$57,180
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.$57,180
Communication has 39 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Mass Communication/Media Studies.$38,113
Health professionshas 34 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management.$108,545
International Public Health/International Health.-
Engineeringhas 31 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics.-
Engineering Science.$75,522
English has 24 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
English Language and Literature, General.-
Rhetoric and Composition.-
Natural resources has 19 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Environmental Studies.-
Visual and Performing artshas 19 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.-
Art/Art Studies, General.-
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.-
Music, General.-
Music Performance, General.-
Music Theory and Composition.-
Voice and Opera.-
Mathmatics and statistics has 17 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Mathematics, General.-
Financial Mathematics.-
Foreign languages has 17 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Chinese Language and Literature.-
Russian Language and Literature.-
French Language and Literature.-
Spanish Language and Literature.-
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.-
Latin Language and Literature.-
Physical scienceshas 13 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Chemistry, General.-
Geology/Earth Science, General.-
Physics, General.-
History has 12 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
History, General.-
Philosophy has 9 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Philosophy.-
Religion/Religious Studies.-
Multi/inerdisciplinary studies has 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
Environmental Geosciences.-
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.-
Cultural has 2 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMaster
East Asian Studies.-
Latin American and Caribbean Studies.-

Students

2,687 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 45:55 · Freshman retention 92.9%

Undergraduate race and ethnicity (2,518)

White
1,273 · 50.6%
Hispanic
630 · 25.0%
Asian
210 · 8.3%
Two or more races
143 · 5.7%
International
130 · 5.2%
Black
110 · 4.4%
Unknown
19 · 0.8%

Age distribution

Bachelor's

Under 18
0.8%
18–19
45.2%
20–21
44.6%
22–24
9.0%
25 and over
0.5%

Graduate students

Under 22
1.8%
22–24
60.4%
25–29
19.5%
30–34
5.3%
35 and over
13.0%

Data insights

Trinity University maintains an undergraduate-centered student body comprised mostly of domestic students, with white and Hispanic students making up the largest groups. Among the incoming undergraduate class in 2025, Asian students numbered 62, accounting for 9.5% of the cohort. International undergraduates in the same entering group numbered 34, representing a 5.2% share. Across upper-level undergraduate classes and the small graduate division, representation remains consistent, with Asian and international students holding similar minority proportions. Transfer students and non-degree seekers represent only a tiny fraction of total enrollment. For prospective students evaluating the social and academic environment, Trinity provides a close-knit campus where domestic students make up the overwhelming majority, while Asian and international peers form established communities within the broader student population.

Trinity University maintains an undergraduate population centered almost entirely around traditional college ages. In 2025, undergraduates aged 18-19 made up 45.2% of the degree-seeking student body, followed closely by students in their early twenties. Very few undergraduates are older adults. The graduate division is similarly oriented toward young adults, where the single largest cohort accounted for 60.4% of total graduate enrollment. This demographic structure indicates that undergraduate campus life revolves heavily around students entering directly from high school who share common residential and social routines. Meanwhile, graduate programs predominantly serve young adults continuing their training soon after completing their bachelor degrees rather than mid-career professionals.

International Students

International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges

Undergraduates5.2%

130 in 2025 · 7.4% in 2016

0% 7.5% 15% 2016: 7.4%2017: 6.5%2018: 5.6%2019: 4.7%2020: 4.1%2021: 3.7%2022: 4.4%2023: 5.0%2024: 4.7%2025: 5.2%
2016Peer median 9.7%2025
Graduate students2.4%

4 in 2025 · 2.9% in 2016

0% 7.5% 15% 2016: 2.9%2017: 1.2%2018: 2.3%2019: 3.1%2020: 1.8%2021: 1.7%2022: 1.1%2023: 3.3%2024: 2.5%2025: 2.4%
2016Peer median 10.0%2025

Data insights

International enrollment at Trinity University represents a modest and declining share of the student body. In 2025, international students comprised 5.2% of undergraduates, dropping from earlier levels. Within a peer group of similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges, this undergraduate international proportion was higher than 20% of peer schools. At the graduate level, the international share also trended downward over the past decade, reaching 2.4% in 2025. Among 2025 degree recipients, international bachelor's graduates concentrated primarily in business and STEM disciplines. Finance, General had the highest undergraduate concentration, with international students earning 13.2% of degrees in the field, followed by neuroscience and computer science. In contrast, international master's graduates were limited in number, appearing primarily in elementary education and accounting. Prospective international applicants should recognize that Trinity provides a predominantly domestic environment, with global student representation concentrated within a small selection of quantitative undergraduate majors.

Cost

2025 cost per year

$68,426

Undergraduate tuition
$53,676
Room and board
$14,750
Graduate tuition
$23,597
Tuition and room and board over time

Peer median tuition + room and board $85,345 · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges

Tuition rose 42% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 19%.

Finances · fiscal year 2024

Revenue$359M

Investment return
$216M60.2%
Tuition and fees
$54.7M15.3%
Gifts and private grants
$48.1M13.4%
Auxiliary enterprises
$28.6M8.0%
Government grants and contracts
$7.3M2.0%
Other
$4.0M1.1%

Expenses$177M

Instruction
$58.9M33.3%
Institutional support
$35.9M20.3%
Student services
$29.8M16.8%
Auxiliary enterprises
$25.1M14.2%
Academic support
$17.4M9.8%
Public service
$5.4M3.0%
Research
$4.6M2.6%

Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)

Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges

All faculty
$111,280peers $106,520
Professor
$137,200peers $141,534
Associate professor
$113,299peers $110,154
Assistant professor
$90,525peers $87,212
Instructor
$61,235peers $68,720
Lecturer
$66,494peers $79,259

Campus Life

Athletics and varsity athletes NCAA · Southern Athletic Association

Southern Athletic Association: football, basketball, baseball, cross country

2025
NCAA Division III with footballMENWOMEN
Football124-
Track and Field (Indoor)5049
Track and Field (Outdoor)5049
Soccer4732
Baseball62-
Cross Country2823
Basketball2225
Swimming and Diving (combined)2123
Tennis1313
Softball-25
Golf1210
Volleyball-18
2024
NCAA Division III with footballMENWOMEN
Track and Field (Indoor)6048
Track and Field (Outdoor)6048
Football91-
Soccer4529
Cross Country3121
Baseball48-
Swimming and Diving (combined)2125
Basketball2115
Tennis1411
Softball-23
Golf108
Volleyball-13
2023
NCAA Division III with footballMENWOMEN
Track and Field (Outdoor)6747
Football91-
Track and Field (Indoor)5136
Soccer4529
Cross Country3122
Baseball48-
Swimming and Diving (combined)1825
Basketball2117
Tennis1411
Softball-23
Golf108
Volleyball-13

Nearby & Safety

Ranked colleges nearby

Data insights

Students exploring college options in Central and South Texas have several alternatives close to Trinity University. Located just 11.8 kilometers away in the same city, The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public institution ranked 227th among national universities in the 2027 rankings. Further north, Texas State University sits 43.7 kilometers away in San Marcos, ranking 288th nationally. For those considering major research universities, The University of Texas at Austin lies 72.1 kilometers away and is ranked 34th in the national university category. In addition, students interested in another private liberal arts setting can consider Southwestern University, situated 94.5 kilometers away in Georgetown, which ranked 91st among liberal arts colleges in 2027. These neighboring institutions provide diverse choices ranging from prominent state flagship universities to fellow regional liberal arts colleges.

Campus safety · incidents per 1,000 students

Peer median 16.7 · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges

Incidents, 2023–2025

Liquor referrals
104
Drug referrals
52
Motor vehicle theft
18
Rape
12
Fondling
5
Burglary
4

From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.

Data insights

Campus safety reports at Trinity University show that disciplinary enforcement accounts for most reported incidents. In 2025, the school's crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 8.9. From 2023 to 2025, the most frequent reports were disciplinary referrals rather than criminal arrests, led by 104 alcohol disciplinary referrals and 52 drug disciplinary referrals. Direct criminal offenses occurred at much lower levels over that three-year period. Motor vehicle theft was the leading criminal category with 18 incidents, followed by smaller numbers of rape, sexual harassment, and dating violence incidents. For families evaluating campus environment and safety, these records indicate that institutional policy enforcement around alcohol and drug use drives the vast majority of campus incidents, while serious offenses remain limited.

Notable Alumni

All 24

Notable alumni of Trinity University include Alice Walton (Walmart heiress and billionaire), Jaclyn Smith (Actress known for Charlie's Angels) and John Cornyn (US senator for Texas).

See all 24 notable alumni of Trinity University →

References and Data Sources

Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.