Howard Payne University, a university founded in 1889 and based in Brownwood, has had an El Paso extension center since 1991. Since its inception, more than 265 students have been graduated from the El Paso Center at HPU. HPU, a Christian private university, is accredited by SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As an extension of School of Christian Studies, the El Paso Center was established to provide academic training and coursework for students preparing for ministry. The El Paso Center expanded its offerings recently to offer additional courses in Christian studies, business administration and criminal justice. Dual credit options are available. Three academic sessions are held each year at the El Paso Center. The fall and spring semesters/semesters last 16 weeks. Onsite classes meet only one time per week. Onsite classes can be found on weekdays, either in the evenings and Saturday mornings. You can also take online classes. The length of the summer sessions varies depending on the course.