Top Ten TSU

Texas State University slides into top 10 ranking on list of best college investments in Texas

Texas State University landed at No. 10 among the best collegiate values in Texas.

By one measure, earning a degree at the Texas State University is one of the smartest moves in the Lone Star State.

In its eighth annual ranking of colleges and university that give students the best return on their educational investment, personal finance website SmartAsset places Texas State at No. 10 in Texas.

Houston's Rice University earned the No. 1 spot in Texas and No. 10 in the U.S., making it the only Texas school to break into the national top 10.

To determine the best-value colleges and universities in each state, SmartAsset crunched data in these categories: scholarships and grants, starting salary for new graduates, tuition, living costs, and retention rate.

Regarding tuition ($10,280) and student living costs ($12,850), Texas State's numbers are in the lower range among the top 10 Texas schools on the list, but so are the average amount of scholarships and grants ($7,757), average starting salary ($54,700), and retention rate (77 percent).

Texas State's admissions website estimates tuition, fees, on-campus room and board, books, and personal expenses for the 2022-23 academic year to be around $27,720. That figure, which excludes financial aid, applies to a full-time, degree-seeking student (and Texas resident) living on campus.

"At Texas State, you can immerse yourself in learning experiences that prepare you to launch a career as an entrepreneur, to make life-changing discoveries in science and technology, or to flourish creatively and make your mark as an artist," reads a statement on the school's admissions website.

Other schools on SmartAsset’s list of the biggest-bang-for-your-buck schools in Texas are:

Rice University in Houston, No. 1
University of Texas at Austin, No. 2
University of Texas at Dallas, No. 3
Prairie View A&M University, No. 4
University of Houston, No. 5
Texas A&M University-College Station, No. 6
Texas Tech University in Lubbock, No. 7
LeTourneau University in Longview, No. 8
University of North Texas in Denton, No. 9
Texas State University in San Marcos, No. 10

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A Night at the Market

San Antonio's Pearl unwraps holiday lights for night market series

Photo courtesy of Pearl

Pearl side streets are at their coziest when holiday decor is up.

The magic of the night market is returning to San Antonio's Pearl for the 2024 holiday season. A news release promises "festive music, unique local makers, and one-of-a-kind holiday finds" on Wednesday Evenings.

Like an extension of the usual farmers and summer makers markets held on the weekends, these markets will bring local vendors to the streets. Holiday Night Markets are scheduled for November 27 and December 4, 11, and 18 from 5-9 pm.

Although Pearl hasn't provided a list of vendors, we do know they'll be selling seasonal goods. Produce is not on the menu, so shoppers will still need to stop by the farmers market for their veggies.

Pearl Holiday Night Market The Holiday Night Markets are a lot like farmers markets in the same location.Photo courtesy of Pearl

The markets will be surrounded by Pearl's other holiday initiatives, including a holiday tree that lights up November 29, the day after Thanksgiving. In response to a question on Facebook about when carolers would stop by, Pearl could not give a date but confirmed that there would be different entertainment every week.

There will also be an opportunity to donate to several charities via Giving Machines from November 18 to December 8. The five benefactors in 2024 are the San Antonio Food Bank, Wish for Our Heroes, Alamo Head Injury Association, Vibrant Works and Catholic Charities of San Antonio. Donors can choose which they want to receive their gift.

Pearl Giving Machines The Giving Machines are like vending machines that drop gift cards into a collection bin to show contributions.Photo courtesy of Pearl

“We are delighted to welcome The Giving Machines back to Pearl in 2024,” said Pearl CEO Mesha Millsap in a separate press release. “Last year's overwhelming response showcased the incredible generosity of San Antonians during the giving season. We're excited to once again offer our community a chance to come together and make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors.”

Let me know if you have any questions. I am sharing a link to a folder of high-res images here to include markets, the tree and the Giving Machines. Our Giving Machines event takes place this morning at 10:30 a.m. and we opened a media pass through 11am for that press conference.

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