Sul Ross State University (SRSU) has finalized the purchase of 43 acres of land in Eagle Pass to serve as the site of its future International Campus, which will offer four-year degree programs and a comprehensive student experience.
The property—located at the northeast corner of Foster Maldonado Boulevard and Main Street—was purchased from Winn Exploration Company, LLC for $4.5 million. The acquisition is funded through Higher Education Fund revenue appropriated by the 89th Texas Legislature.
“This investment in Eagle Pass marks a historic step forward for Sul Ross International,” said SRSU President Carlos Hernandez. “It allows us to move ahead with plans for a four-year university that will serve and strengthen the Middle Rio Grande Region for generations to come.”
Strategic Site Selection
Since 2022, SRSU and the Texas State University System (TSUS) reviewed multiple proposals from area landowners offering to donate property. After a thorough evaluation with guidance from commercial real estate firm JLL, Inc., the university selected the Winn property for its proximity to Southwest Texas College, Fort Duncan Medical Center, and a nearby athletic complex.
SRSU expressed gratitude to local landowners Larry Levine, Thomas Teague, and Sonia and Beyer Junfin for their generous offers of land donations.
Responding to Regional Needs
In 2022, TSUS commissioned Hanover Research to study workforce and academic demand in the region. The study identified strong demand for new degree programs in:
- Finance
- Engineering
- Information Science
- Construction Technology
- Computer Information Systems
- Health-related fields
To support this expansion, the 89th Texas Legislature authorized $2.5 million annually for the development of new academic programs.
Next Steps
Earlier this year, the Legislature passed House Bill 1022, authored by Representative Eddie Morales and Senator César Blanco, authorizing SRSU to offer lower-division courses at a 20,000-square-foot multipurpose teaching facility located between the university’s leased space at Southwest Texas College and the newly acquired property.
Looking ahead, TSUS has engaged Freese and Nichols to update the 2023 Eagle Pass Master Plan, scheduled for presentation to the Board of Regents in May 2026. The update is funded with support from Maverick County, the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County Hospital District, and Eagle Pass Water Works.
Once approved, TSUS will execute design and construction contracts for the campus’s inaugural building, with completion anticipated within three years of approval.
