They are very faithfully Catholic. That most certainly is true, and if that’s the only thing important to you, they are in fact the only option in this area. They’re also a scandal-ridden last resort school that will likely shutter within the next couple of decades. They’re the kind of school where maintaining SACS accreditation is a big deal for them, and a thing they have to actively concern themselves with.
I’d hate to see them shutter. About HALF the student body is Hispanic, and another 12% is Asian, largely Filipino and Vietnamese. There’s something to be said for that type of diversity, right?
An Uncle of mine graduated from UST back in the 1950s and had a long, successful career in sales and sales management. My Mom went there her freshman year before transferring to and finishing at Lamar.
It’s been a good move for them, especially in Men’s Basketball.
They made the D3 Elite Eight this past season, and finished 29-2.
Again, credit where it’s due, they are diverse. So is University of Phoenix. Diversity alone does not a good school make.
It’s my understanding that they’ve been on a hard downhill slide since about 2005. In 2026, they’re absolutely not a good school and I don’t even think I’d recommend them over WGU. (Granted, I have a higher opinion of WGU than most here likely do.)
I view for profit schools on a whole different plane.
That said.
I have read of their financial turmoil, from which they have only recently emerged.
OTOH…I like THESE departmental offerings:
River Oaks is not known for its Nightlife.
Not sure if it ever was, but as an Elder Millenial, when I’d go out (circa 2012 - 2021) Nightlife always seemed to be around Midtown/Montrose/Main St/EaDo.
Apparently, the Heights is what’s “in” right now with the nephews.
I think of River Oaks as nightlife for older folks, not traditional collage aged youngins.
The financial stuff is just the tip of the iceberg. They fired their last president a couple years ago because he paid a “consultant” with fabricated credentials a ton of money to come in and gut the University’s leadership. They’ve cut a ton of faculty and replaced them with adjuncts in order to make budget. We’ll see if their new president can right the ship long-term, but I’d bet against them if odds were offered.
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UST is in Montrose, not River Oaks.
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I was wondering how River Oaks slipped into the thread for nightlife.
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although if we’re talking nightlife, Houston Christian is just a short drive down 59 from the Bissonet Track 
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another idea is to figure out a way to increase “connectivity” to the East End/Second Ward/Eado while 3rd ward continues to redevelop
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Ah ha. 
My pipe dream of the Fingers Lots would do exactly that!!!
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The biggest issue with connecting the campus to East End is the presence of 45, which is basically a hard barrier between UH and the East End. It’s the same reason they’re tearing down the Pierce Elevated to connect Downtown to Midtown.
Of course, I could be sold on tearing down that section of 45, too…
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Oh, ok. That’s my mistake.
Well, I guess there is nightlife nearby then.
for sure, its a quick bike/scooter ride away tho…maybe removing the bike lanes and widening the sidewalks (to accommodate both pedestrians and bikers and some trees for shade) along Cullen across the tracks to the Kombat Kroger…also adding another rail station along the Purple Line at McKinney and the Columbia Tap Trail…fix the sidewalks that go under the Spur to the Metro Bus Terminal (which needs to be updated as well)
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I think this is the best & most realistic alternative option atm.
There is a new restaurant (looks like mostly for brunch but not really sure) on the other side of 45 in between Scott and Cullen. Lo Lo’s Chicken and Waffles. That is refreshing to see. Hope it will be successful.
Metro should to build a park and ride garage at Scott and Leeland near it’s light rail stations. That area is primed to be an area with restaurants and bars. Coog fans could party across 45 before a football or basketball game and be at the game within two rail stops.
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I am a little bit dubious about making much progress in the third ward. The politics is just too difficult. The freeway is an issue but the East End permits a good deal more flexibility. Placing a Greek Row in that area could be possible and at a lower cost. There is more commercial real estate readily available. I think the issue would be to carefully select the right mix of facilities to be housed on that side of the freeway. A shuttle could be worked into the planning. By the time the third ward gets “ready” for development you could already have what you need across the freeway.
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they expanded to Conroe and that died quickly - added a bunch of sports with no playing facilities also
i was hoping the developer could salvage that old building with the cool arches…demo’d, such is life in Houston, run by developers, always has, always will be