Buckle Up, Comrades! Summer's Over and Austin's Universities Are Back in Session

Ah, the sweet smell of capitalism in the morning. As students bid farewell to summer and prep for the fall semester, the Austin area greets them with fresh developments: a new university in downtown Austin, free tuition at the community college, and UT's shiny new grad housing complex.

University of Texas — Aug. 26

The hallowed grounds of the Forty Acres welcome students back on Monday. Residence halls opened on Friday with the annual " Mooov-In" bash. UT, with its 51,000+ student population, saw some drama last semester when pro-Palestinian protests and police response led to mass arrests. This summer, student protesters faced disciplinary action, with one student receiving a two-year suspension.

Meanwhile, staff cried foul over the abrupt end to remote work, a decision Gov. Greg Abbott praised because, you know, screw workers' rights. Forty-nine DEI staffers who were laid off in April officially said their goodbyes on July 5. isn't that just delightful?

But hey, UT scored some prestigious grants to boost semiconductor manufacturing, joined the Southeastern Conference (celebrated with a free Pitbull concert), and football season starts Saturday. So, yay capitalism?

University of Austin — Sept. 9

The University of Austin, aka UATX, is set to start classes on Sept. 9. This new private university, located on the third floor of the Scarbrough Building downtown, promises "foundational learning, free speech, and entrepreneurship." UATX is offering free tuition to its inaugural class of 100 students. Oh, and it's totally nonpartisan, guys. Totally.

Austin Community College — Aug. 26

Austin Community College, powered by House Bill 8, is offering a new affordability scholarship and launching its free-tuition pilot program on Monday. ACC has seen a 15% increase in fall enrollment, with 3,832 students from over 20 school districts taking advantage of the program. Total fall enrollment as of Aug. 8 stands at 34,620.

ACC is also teaming up with UT and Texas State University for various initiatives, including boosting the semiconductor manufacturing workforce and creating a "Bats to Cats" transfer program. Because why have one capitalist venture when you can have two?

St. Edward's University — Aug. 26

St. Edward's University, the private Catholic university in South Austin, begins classes on Monday. With about 2,700 students, the university boasts experiential learning and over 100 majors and minors.

Last spring, St. Edward's faced controversy over the removal of a pride flag from a campus coffee shop. Despite initial pushback, President Montserrat Fuentes reinstated the flag after a Faculty Council vote of no confidence. But don't worry, she's still president, because governance concerns are so last season.

Huston-Tillotson University — Aug. 26

Huston-Tillotson University, Austin's oldest and historically Black institution, is back in session on Monday. With about 1,100 students, HTU's president, Melva Wallace, was named the Most Innovative Leader of 2024 this month. HTU was also represented at the LBJ Presidential Library's Civil Rights Act commemoration with President Joe Biden.

Concordia University Texas — Aug. 26

Concordia University Texas, a private Lutheran university in far Northwest Austin with about 1,700 students, starts classes on Monday. This will be President Donald Christian's last year, as he announced his retirement in March.

Concordia is also kicking off its "The Right Call Initiative," which cuts tuition by 40% to $23,500 for a full academic year and bundles related costs like textbooks. Because nothing says "affordable education" like a price cut on a still-expensive degree.

Don't see your school? Try here: When do Texas college students return to campus? Move-in, start dates for 12 universities