St. Edward’s University Strengthens Partnership with Austin Community College to Support Transfer Students
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University and Austin Community College District (ACC) are proud to announce a new innovative scholarship program to help more students make the transition from ACC to St. Edward’s. The program — called ACComplish @ St. Edward’s — begins in Fall 2025.
“We are honored to join forces with ACC in launching the new ACComplish @ St. Edward’s Scholars Program. This transformative initiative will ensure a stronger, streamlined transfer experience and provide substantial financial support and housing for ACC students who plan on advancing their education on the hilltop,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes.
The ACComplish @ St. Edward’s Scholarship will provide a $5,000 annual scholarship to students transferring directly from ACC, with an additional $5,000 annual Affinity Scholarship to ACC students who graduated from a Catholic, KIPP, or IDEA high school. Additionally, St. Edward’s offers Transfer Merit Scholarships, ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 per year, along with a $2,500 award for top students in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams without financial barriers standing in the way,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “This partnership expands access to scholarships and resources, making higher education more affordable and attainable. I’m deeply grateful to St. Edward’s University for their commitment to investing in our students’ futures and making the path to a four-year degree more accessible than ever."
ACComplish @ St. Edward’s also provides eligible students access to the recently introduced Accelerated Graduate Pathways at St. Edward’s. Qualified individuals can begin taking graduate-level coursework within the university’s graduate programs in The Bill Munday School of Business and the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences while completing their undergraduate coursework — all of which is part of their undergraduate tuition. ACC students can also begin experiential learning opportunities such as internships or research with faculty before their arrival at St. Edward’s.
ACComplish @ St. Edward’s will leverage the 2+2 pathways with integrated advising involving St. Edward’s Success Coaches and ACC advisors. 2+2 offers Transfer Pathways for popular transfer majors for Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees; BA in Psychology; BA in Communication; BA in Kinesiology; BA in Criminal Justice; BBA in Marketing; BBA in Finance; BBA in Accounting; BS in Biology; and BS in Nursing.
Furthermore, in an effort to provide transfer students a traditional student experience, ACC students will have the option to live on campus in Casa, a co-ed community, year-round through ACComplish @ St. Edward’s. Living on campus provides students with easy access to friends, peers, classes and dining options. Engaging in the residential experience at St. Edward’s inspires students to develop a sense of community and belonging, while building relationships with fellow Hilltoppers.
The advanced partnership with ACC is a testament to the existing transfer-friendly process offered to students seeking a premier education at St. Edward’s. The university accepts the Texas Core Complete Status, which means students who have completed the 42-credit-hour, general education core curriculum (outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) at a state public college will have those credits applied to their degree plan at St. Edward’s. The university also offers transfer student-specific application deadlines to simplify the planning process, as well as three ways to apply. Furthermore, St. Edward’s has garnered national recognition for its exemplary transfer pathways, receiving the gold seal of approval on the 2024 Transfer Honor Roll by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) in recognition of the dynamic pathways the university has created to support transfer students.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West. The American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation designated St. Edward’s research university status in 2025.
About Austin Community College District (ACC)
Austin Community College District is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. The college is focused on student success and building brighter futures through upward mobility. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative learning programs, ACC provides affordable, flexible pathways to help everyone reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college enrolls more than 70,000 students annually.
