Angelo State University (ASU)

Angelo State University, located in San Angelo, Texas, offers an academic environment that is "small enough to foster a sense of family among its students, but large enough to carry out the usual dealings of universities that have many more students." Among these offerings are "outstanding instructors," "top-rated programs," and a low faculty-to-student ratio-one student says, "the small...ratio is what really drew me to Angelo State." The university puts forth a variety of "resources available to enhance education." These include scholarship opportunities, ROTC programs, counseling services, and a dedicated Student Affairs office. Student advisory services are provided free of charge and make valuable additions to the overall academic experience. Angelo State students describe professors and other faculty members as "always willing to help" in a variety of ways. The university's professionals go above and beyond by "explaining concepts outside of class time, offering advice of which courses to take, or even offering career advice." They take the time to get to know individual students, "provide additional resources," and "encourage the next generation of scholars" by guiding students to think critically and "better understand multiple perspectives." One student raves, saying, "I have had several different majors in my college journey, and in every program...I felt like the professors really cared about teaching."

The students at Angelo State University offer an extraordinarily "friendly and welcoming" atmosphere on campus. It's also a large enough school that "you are constantly meeting new people, but at the same time you get to see the people you are well-acquainted with." Students at the school affectionately refer to fellow members of the university as the "Ram Fam," which "means that everyone is family at the school...because everyone is out to help you." Most students say their peers are the type of people who are "polite," "uplifting," and "have your back." According to one undergraduate, "Everyone has the goals they want to achieve, and the students find support to achieve those goals within the community they build." Students go out of their way to make others feel comfortable and accepted, "offer to help you find your way to class," or even "open doors or greet you." One states, "I can't walk to class without receiving a 'hello' or 'what's up' from other students." And that crowd of friendly faces "seems to grow [in diversity] each year." Overall, students find the climate on campus to be "beyond amazing."

The average student at Angelo State tends to maintain a healthy balance between schoolwork and leisure. Students see their work as a priority but still find time to socialize with friends and participate in extracurricular activities. "Just hanging out is common," as students enjoy walking around campus, finding a place outdoors to simply relax, "studying around campus, [and talking] to their friends." Many students spend their time either at the library or at the University Center because both places are considered to be "the most calming." Other students use their personal time to visit the recreation center, which has a full gym, equipped with an inside track and a "weight room [that] is amazing," or they can participate in other recreational sports. "When it gets warm outside, the sand volleyball courts always have a good crowd at them," says a student. Those looking for entertainment off-campus will be pleased that the surrounding area of San Angelo includes restaurants, bars, a shopping mall, and other nearby stores, and "the nightlife is pretty solid around town."