The ocean-oriented academic programs are accredited regionally and professionally. Students are from 49 different states and the District of Columbia. Fifty-seven percent plan to pursue a master's or Ph.D. degree and about 65 percent receive some type of financial aid. The Mitchell Campus, situated on the Galveston harbor and close to the confluence of the Galveston and Houston ship channels, has immediate access to the ocean and to estuarine areas including Galveston Bay. The Port of Galveston and Port of Houston are nearby, as are many Gulf Coast industries.
Campus life is enhanced by the cultural and social activities in Galveston.
Galveston Island was once the financial center of the South. Today, the city has become a major tourist center with a strong representation of marine and maritime interests. The new Moody Gardens Conference Center boasts the Southwest's finest 3-D MAX theater and a unique tropical garden pyramid biome. The city has several historical districts, museums and musical groups including the Galveston Symphony Orchestra and the Galveston Beach Band. Computer science and technical writing courses are taught across curricula, regardless of a student's major field.