Northeast Texas - Higher Education

Higher Education

Northeast Texas has a number of higher education institutions including The University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M University at Commerce, Texas A&M University at Texarkana, Stephen F. Austin State University located in Nacogdoches, LeTourneau University, eight public and two private community colleges, a branch of the Texas State Technical College at Marshall, three historically black colleges, and a number of church affiliated private institutions. The public colleges and universities of the region also collaboratively provide degree and course opportunities through the Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges and Universities.

The community colleges of Northeast Texas share a history of emerging from the "junior college" movement of schools focused on providing the first two years of the college degree. Although most added technical programs with Associate of Applied Science Degrees following the community college movement of the 1960s, the schools still place a strong emphasis on liberal arts and the academic Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programs. They often include the full range of college sports, including football, host dormitories, and are known for their "high kicking" drill teams. Community Colleges in the region include Kilgore College, home of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes, Paris Junior College, Northeast Texas Community College near Mt. Pleasant, Texarkana College, Panola College in Carthage, Tyler Junior College, Trinity Valley Community College in Athens and with campuses in Terrell and Palestine, and Angelina College in Lufkin. Jacksonville hosts the two smaller private two-year colleges of the region, Jacksonville College (Baptist) and Lon Morris College.