Sul Ross State University Purchases 43 Acres in Eagle Pass for International Campus
EAGLE PASS, TX — Sul Ross State University has officially completed the purchase of 43 acres of land in Eagle Pass for $4.5 million to serve as the site of its future International Campus. The property, located at the northeast corner of Foster Maldonado Boulevard and Main Street, will provide space for a four-year university designed to expand higher education access across the Middle Rio Grande Region.
The land purchase was finalized with Winn Exploration Company, LLC, using Higher Education Fund revenue authorized by the 89th Texas Legislature. The site was selected after extensive review and consultation with JLL, Inc., a commercial real estate firm. Its proximity to Southwest Texas College, Fort Duncan Medical Center, and a nearby athletic complex made it the most strategic location for development.
Sul Ross State University President Carlos Hernandez called the purchase a milestone for the institution. “This investment in Eagle Pass marks a historic step forward for Sul Ross International,” Hernandez said. “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.”
In preparation for the campus expansion, Hanover Research conducted a study in 2022 to evaluate the region’s academic needs. The findings showed demand for programs in finance, engineering, information science, construction technology, computer information systems, and healthcare-related fields. To support these efforts, the Texas Legislature authorized $2.5 million annually to fund new academic programs tailored to regional workforce demands.
Earlier this year, House Bill 1022, filed by Representative Eddie Morales and Senator César Blanco, granted Sul Ross authority to offer lower-division courses in a 20,000-square-foot multipurpose teaching facility located between its leased space at Southwest Texas College and the newly acquired property.
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The Texas State University System has contracted Freese and Nichols to update the 2023 Eagle Pass Master Plan, with presentation to the Board of Regents scheduled for May 2026. The update is being supported by Maverick County, the City of Eagle Pass, the Maverick County Hospital District, and Eagle Pass Water Works. Once approved, the university expects to move forward with design and construction contracts, with the inaugural building anticipated within three years of execution.
The establishment of this new International Campus represents a long-awaited opportunity for Eagle Pass residents and surrounding communities, who will soon have access to four-year degree programs without having to relocate. Community leaders see the project as both an educational advancement and an economic investment that will benefit the region for decades.
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