Texas State Normal School opened in 1903 for the education of teachers. As curricula and enrollment expanded, it became Southwest Texas State University in 1969 and Texas State University–San Marcos in 2003. The campus is an extension of the town street grid, until it is broken up by the rising topography and split by the San Marcos River.
Recent buildings of note include the University Performing Arts Center (2011, Morris Architects) at University Drive and Moon Street, the Student Recreation Center (2007, Marmon Mok) at 1011 Academy Street, and McCoy Hall (2003, Garza/Bomberger and Associates) at 708 N. Comanche Street.