Trinity University

Key Highlights

• Independent private nonprofit university founded in 1869
• Verified to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• 125-acre residential hilltop campus in San Antonio
• University reports an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio

Student Life & Environment

Trinity has a strongly residential undergraduate environment. Its housing policy states that all full-time undergraduates live on campus for their first three years, while many seniors also choose university housing. First-year students begin in a designated neighborhood, and later housing includes different residence-hall options. The university describes primarily suite-style accommodation and reports 15 residence halls, though applicants should confirm the exact building, room configuration, accessibility features, and annual rate before committing. Outside class, the university reports more than 120 student clubs and organizations. Activities extend across performance, publications, leadership, community service, spiritual life, club and intramural sports, and outdoor recreation. Trinity also fields 18 NCAA Division III teams, and the university reports that about 20% of students compete in varsity athletics. These figures indicate a campus where organized activities and athletics are visible, but they do not imply that every activity is available every year. Dining includes a traditional all-you-care-to-eat facility and other on-campus options. Residential staff and student resident assistants support the halls, while university services include health and wellbeing, campus safety, academic support, accessibility resources, and international-student assistance. Because the three-year residency rule materially affects both lifestyle and cost, students should examine current housing contracts, meal-plan terms, break arrangements, and exemption procedures directly.

Location & Surroundings

Trinity is located at 1 Trinity Place in San Antonio, Texas, on a 125-acre hilltop campus overlooking downtown. The university describes downtown as roughly ten minutes away, giving students access to a major metropolitan area without placing the academic core directly in the central business district. Campus landscaping includes mature live oaks, green spaces, fountains, and a distinctive collection of red-brick, mid-century modern buildings. San Antonio can function as an extension of the classroom. The city supports internships, service learning, research, arts participation, and community-based work, and Trinity explicitly connects students with local organizations through its experiential and civic-engagement programs. Its museums, health care sector, businesses, schools, government institutions, cultural events, and historically significant built environment may be especially relevant to students in arts, urban studies, health, education, business, and public-facing fields. Applicants should still assess transportation practically. Being near downtown does not mean every destination is walkable from campus, and the reviewed sources do not establish a universal student transportation arrangement. A visit can help students evaluate travel time, neighborhood context, climate, and the balance between a self-contained residential campus and off-campus city life.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For incoming students in fall 2026, Trinity’s official worksheet projects full-time tuition of $29,640 per semester, or $59,280 across fall 2026 and spring 2027. It also lists a traditional shared room at $4,900 per semester and the Silver meal plan at $3,183 per semester. Together, those three published components total $75,446 for the academic year before health insurance, books, transportation, personal expenses, and other charges. The worksheet describes these as projected amounts and notes that actual charges appear on the student’s semester statement. The worksheet estimates student health insurance at $2,500 and indicates that coverage can be waived, subject to the applicable requirements. Students should calculate net cost from their individual aid offer rather than relying only on the sticker price. Trinity says first-year admission applications automatically receive consideration for most merit awards; its current scholarship page describes general merit awards of $12,000 to $35,000 annually, with some specialized or competitive scholarships requiring additional steps. Need-based grants, outside scholarships, employment, and loans may also appear in an aid package. Career preparation includes individualized advising, internship and research support, alumni and employer connections, graduate-school guidance, and community-engaged learning. Trinity reports that 98% of the Class of 2025 were employed, interning, serving, or enrolled in graduate school within six months. This is an institution-reported combined outcome, not a salary measure, and students should seek program-level destination data when comparing likely results in a particular field.