Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World" and #1 "Best Place to Live in America"

Austin is a big city with a small-town feel. It's relaxed yet bustling, rich in tradition yet eclectic. You'll find a lot of everything — natural beauty, vibrant nightlife, big business and a casual atmosphere.

See for yourself the great adventures Austin has to offer in this quick city snapshot.

Presidential Award winner Jessica Riley

Hear Presidential Award winners share how St. Edward's prepared them to take on their world.

Campus is only a mile away from South Congress, an iconic spot for food and live music.

Quick Facts

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U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin #1 on its 2017, 2018 and 2019 lists of the Best Places to Live in America.

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In 2021, WalletHub named Austin the #2 Best College City in the U.S. based on academic, social and economic opportunities for students.
 

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Austin is home to three Fortune 500 Companies and is ranked one of the Top 10 Cities To Start Your Career by WallHub.
 

Life in Austin Photo Gallery 

A sunset view of Auditorium Shores (just 2.5 miles from campus), Lady Bird Lake and the downtown skyline captures a dynamic city on the move.
Students eating amy's icecream on South Congress.

Head to the SOCO district (also known as South Congress Ave.) for a local favorite: Amy’s Ice Cream. Just one mile from campus, SOCO is loaded with popular dining spots.
Zilker Park

Plan a picnic at Zilker Park or a game of sand volleyball with friends. Home to the annual ACL Music Festival and Blues on the Green, Zilker offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Barton Springs Pool

Cool off at Barton Springs, a natural spring fed pool in the heart Austin. The temperature hovers just around 69 degrees year round.
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Explore Austin’s vibrant nightlife with a stroll down 6th Street or Rainy Street.
Glass Animals performs at Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World” and home to over 200 music venues. Catch a show any night of the week.
Walking bridge over Lady Bird Lake

With an average of 300 days a year of sunshine, the urban trails around the city offer plenty of opportunities for biking, walking and running.
Ellsworth Kelly

Enjoy amazing art in Austin’s museums and cultural exhibits. Pictured here is Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin,” at the downtown Blanton Museum of Art.
Hiking on the Greenbelt

Go for a hike or relax under the trees along Austin’s many Greenbelts.
Students posing at Capital Factory mural.

Just 5 miles from the Capitol, St. Edward’s is an ideal location for internships and jobs. Connect with experts in the field and gain career skills through hands-on experiences.
Crux Climbing Center close to campus hosts fun community events

Austin’s businesses offer unique nightlife opportunities, like cheering on competitors at Crux Climbing Gym, just down the road from campus.
Shopping on South Congress

Shop for your perfect pair of cowboy boots along SOCO, and step into the eclectic fashion of Austin, Texas.
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Vivian Phillips distributes magazines

Music, Tech and More

Kevin Wierzbowski ’22 shows us what a weekend attending the Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival at Zilker Park is like. See his reflections and photos from the music festival. Students also look forward to SXSW, the Austin Film Festival and other big annual events held in Austin. 
 

Keeping Austin Weird

Keeping Austin Weird 

Students at St. Edward’s love Austin. Located just 3 miles from the center of downtown, it’s often the small, sometimes wacky details that help them feel like they could make this city their home. Student share some of the quirks they say make this city so great.
 

OIT at Capital Factory

Career Connections 

Austin is a hub for talent and innovation. And Hilltoppers have  an added advantage: St. Edward’s has built strong partnerships with some of Austin’s largest businesses and organizations. Here are seven ways the university and the city are connected. 
 

A person runs on a trail in downtown Austin.

44 Reasons We Love Austin

Tell anyone outside of the capital area you go to school in Austin, and they will surely envy you. Read about how Hilltoppers make the most of one of America’s best cities to live in.