Trinity University Press
Trinity University Press is a nonprofit university press founded in 2002 by Trinity University in San Antonio, publishing literary, ecopoetry, environmental, and Texas regional titles across five imprints, distributed through PGW/Ingram and Ingram Publisher Services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Trinity University Press does
Trinity University Press is a nonprofit university press established in 2002 and operated by Trinity University, a private university in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded with an endowment from the Ewing Halsell Foundation, which continues to cover a portion of annual expenses, with the remainder funded through book sales and donations. The press publishes books across nature and environmental writing, ecopoetry, regional Texas history and culture, architecture and landscape, literary memoir, and Hispanic/Latino literature, operating five imprints — the main Trinity University Press imprint, Arte Kids (bilingual English-Spanish children's books), Maverick Books (general interest), Terra Firma (regional Texas and Southwest), and Tinta Books (Chicano/Latino literature). It also operates Tripod, an in-house podcast featuring author interviews tied to its catalog.
The press generates revenue through three streams: book sales (print and ebook), academic sales (desk and exam copies distributed via Ingram Academic), and subsidiary rights licensing (reprint, foreign language, audio, dramatic, merchandise, and digital rights). Trade paperbacks are priced $18.95–$39.95 and hardcovers $24.95–$55.00; ebooks are priced $14.99–$29.99. Print distribution is handled by Publishers Group West/Ingram into retail, gift, and wholesale trade; ebook distribution is exclusive to Ingram Publisher Services and reaches both consumers (Amazon Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook) and institutions (Ebrary, EBSCO, OverDrive, Zinio). Direct sales run through tupress.org, with additional exposure via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Bookshop.org, and physical bookstores.
Operationally, the press is small — visible management comprises a director, an assistant sales manager, a business manager, a director of planned giving, a media relations contact, and a permissions contact. Marketing relies on the website, TikTok (@tupress), AWP conference participation, author events and readings, and a structured media review-copy program. The press is a Green Press Initiative member and prints 100% of books on FSC-certified recycled paper. Through 2025–2026, the press secured multiple industry awards — IBPA gold and silver, IPPY gold and bronze, National Indie Excellence, and Willa Cather — while continuing to expand its catalog across environmental memoir, ecopoetry, LGBTQ+ memoir, Texas regional history, and political nonfiction, and deepening collaborations with San Antonio cultural institutions including the Witte Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art, Artpace, and the San Antonio Express-News.
Trinity University Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trinity University Press
- Legal name
- Trinity University Press
- Website
- https://tupress.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Trinity University Press is a nonprofit university press founded in 2002 by Trinity University in San Antonio, publishing literary, ecopoetry, environmental, and Texas regional titles across five imprints, distributed through PGW/Ingram and Ingram Publisher Services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trinity University Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Academic & Literary Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research Monographs & University Press Publishing (MPAJABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Humanities & Arts Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAE)
Keywords
Where Trinity University Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Trinity University Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling print and ebook editions of published titles directly to consumers through the website and through retail/online channels.
- Academic Sales: Desk and exam copies provided to academic institutions for course adoption; revenue from institutional sales through Ingram Academic.
- Subsidiary Rights: Revenue from licensing subsidiary rights including book reprint, book club, foreign language, performance, dramatization, audio, merchandise, and digital rights.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ebook editions available through various online retailers |
| Subscription | Annual | Institutional/ebook access through digital content vendors |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Trinity University Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trinity University Press is a nonprofit university press publishing literary and academic books focused on nature and the environment, regional Texas topics, architecture and landscape, poetry, and cultural studies. The press operates five imprints (Trinity University Press, Arte Kids, Maverick Books, Terra Firma, and Tinta Books) and distributes print books through Publishers Group West/Ingram and ebooks through multiple consumer and institutional platforms, including its own direct-to-consumer website store.
Product overview
Trinity University Press is a university press publisher with a portfolio of multiple imprints: the main Trinity University Press imprint for academic and literary works; Arte Kids for bilingual children's books; Maverick Books for general interest titles; Terra Firma for regional Texas topics; and Tinta Books for Chicano/Latino literature. The press publishes books on nature and environment, architecture and landscape, regional Texas culture, poetry, and literary collections. Distribution includes print books via Publishers Group West/Ingram and ebooks through major retail and institutional platforms. The press also operates Tripod, a podcast platform featuring author interviews. Notable titles include ecopoetry anthologies, environmental writing, regional Texas history, and literary memoirs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Arte Kids: Children's imprint focused on art and cultural education for kids.
- Maverick Books
- Terra Firma
- Tinta Books
- Trinity University Press
Products and services
- Trinity University Press (Main Imprint) Primary publishing imprint releasing academic and literary books on nature, environment, regional Texas topics, architecture, and landscape for general and scholarly readers.
- Arte Kids Children's publishing imprint producing bilingual English-Spanish books on art and cultural education for young readers, developed in collaboration with the San Antonio Museum of Art.
- Maverick Books Publishing imprint for general interest titles.
- Terra Firma Publishing imprint focused on regional Texas and Southwest topics, including landscape and nature content.
- Tinta Books Publishing imprint with focus on Chicano/Latino literature, culture, and Texas border narratives.
- Tripod Podcast Podcast platform featuring author interviews and discussions related to published books and environmental/cultural topics.
- Print Book Distribution Physical book distribution through Publishers Group West/Ingram to retail trade, gift trade, and wholesale trade channels.
- Ebook Distribution Digital distribution of ebooks through multiple consumer retail channels (Amazon Kindle, Google Editions, iTunes/iBookstore, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook) and institutional platforms (Ebrary, EBSCO, OverDrive, Zinio).
- Academic Desk and Exam Copies Desk and exam copies available for select books adopted as required course texts, distributed through Ingram Academic.
- Out There by Lance Garland Memoir recounting one man's search to lead an authentic life, taking him around the world through major societal changes including his experience as an openly gay Navy SEAL and firefighter.
- Attached to the Living World by Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street Second ecopoetry anthology exploring issues and conversations in ecopoetry over the past decade, featuring more than 150 contemporary poets.
- The Carework Project by Jennifer Case Hybrid work combining memoir and cultural reflection exploring what care means in a time of climate crisis, examining caregiving, trauma, and healing.
- A Story of Stories by Cristina Devereaux Ramírez Personal tribute to the author's maternal grandmother Doña Ramona González, chronicling life and writings from the Texas border barrio.
- We Are Animals by Jennifer Case Collection of personal essays tackling social stigmas around mothering, childbirth, and feminism in the twenty-first century.
- Fly-Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci by David Ladensohn Exploration connecting Leonardo da Vinci's obsession with water and expertise in hydraulics to the art of fly-fishing.
- This Is How a Robin Drinks by Joanna Brichetto Fifty-three short lyrical essays celebrating urban nature with keen observation and earthy humor, arranged by season.
- The Ecopoetry Anthology by Ann Fisher-Wirth and Laura-Gray Street Authoritative collection of contemporary American poetry about nature and the environment, featuring historical and modern poets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple 2026 award wins across IBPA, IPPY, and National Indie Excellence Awards
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Trinity University Press
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Trinity University Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Trinity University Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ArtpaceminorSan Antonio nonprofit arts organization. Trinity University Press has published 'Dreaming Red: Creating ArtPace' in collaboration with Artpace.
- Brackenridge Park ConservancyminorConservancy focused on San Antonio's acclaimed urban park. Published 'Brackenridge: San Antonio's Acclaimed Urban Park' by Lewis F. Fisher.
- Foundation for Landscape StudiesminorFoundation focused on landscape studies. Published 'The Plazas of New Mexico' as a collaborative project.
- Historic Marker Database ProjectminorOrganization documenting historic markers. Collaborative partner on regional history projects.
- San Antonio American Institute of ArchitectsminorProfessional architectural organization. Collaborative partner on architecture and design publications.
- San Antonio Museum of ArtminorMajor San Antonio museum. Multiple collaborative publications including bilingual children's books (Arte Kids imprint) and 'San Antonio 1718: Art from Mexico'. Published 8 titles together including books on shapes, colors, animals, and art in English and Spanish.
- San Antonio Public Library FoundationminorFoundation supporting San Antonio public libraries. Collaborative partner on regional literacy and cultural projects.
- The San Antonio Express-NewsminorFourth-largest daily newspaper in Texas. Published 'San Antonio: Our Story of 150 Years in the Alamo City' documenting the newspaper's 150-year coverage of San Antonio history and culture.
- The Witte MuseumminorSan Antonio museum focused on natural history and South Texas culture. Multiple collaborative publications including 'Painters in Prehistory: Archaeology and Art of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands' and 'Photography on the South Texas Frontier' from their collection.
- Publishers Group West/IngramcorePrimary print book distribution partner handling retail trade, gift trade, and wholesale distribution. PGW located at 1700 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710 with customer service at (866) 400-5351.
- Ingram Publisher ServicescoreExclusive ebook distribution partner for institutional access. Subject to their terms and conditions for digital content distribution.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Trinity University Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Georgia Press: Regional university press with strong environmental, literary, and cultural studies lists. Comparable in scale and editorial focus on literary nonfiction and nature writing, serving a similar mix of trade and academic readers.
- Texas Tech University Press: Texas university press with emphasis on regional history, natural history, and Southwestern cultural topics. Competes with Trinity for Texas-focused authors, course adoptions, and library sales.
- University of Arizona Press: Southwest-focused university press publishing on environmental humanities, borderlands studies, and Indigenous topics. Comparable to Trinity in subject matter overlap (environmental writing, regional cultural studies) and target audience.
- Heyday Books: Independent nonprofit press focused on California regional history, environmental writing, and indigenous topics. Highly comparable to Trinity's mix of regional cultural publishing and nature/environmental content.
- Milkweed Editions: Independent nonprofit literary press with a strong focus on ecopoetry, environmental writing, and place-based literature. Closest peer in the ecopoetry category where Trinity's flagship franchise competes.
- University of New Mexico Press: Regional university press publishing extensively on Southwest cultural, environmental, and Latin American topics. Strongly comparable to Trinity's Terra Firma and Tinta imprints in subject matter and target audiences.
- University of Texas Press: Major Texas-based university press with comparable focus on Texas regional, cultural, and Latin American topics. Operates with similar academic/trade hybrid model and is the most direct in-state peer for Trinity University Press's regional catalog.
- Texas A&M University Press: University press with strong Texas regional, natural history, and Southwestern content focus. Competes for the same regional authors, course adoptions, and library buyers that Trinity University Press serves.
Broad incumbents
- Yale University Press: One of the largest and most established American university presses with broad lists across humanities, art, and architecture. Competes for the same architecture/landscape authors and library acquisitions as Trinity's architecture imprint.
Emerging players
- Counterpoint Press: Independent literary publisher with strong lists in nature writing, memoir, and cultural nonfiction. Comparable in editorial taste and trade positioning though operating as a for-profit independent rather than university press.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Trinity University Press social profiles
Digital presenceTrinity University Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trinity University Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Trinity University Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trinity University Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trinity University Press
What does Trinity University Press do?
Trinity University Press is a nonprofit university press publishing literary and academic books focused on nature and the environment, regional Texas topics, architecture and landscape, poetry, and cultural studies. The press operates five imprints (Trinity University Press, Arte Kids, Maverick Books, Terra Firma, and Tinta Books) and distributes print books through Publishers Group West/Ingram and ebooks through multiple consumer and institutional platforms, including its own direct-to-consumer website store.
Is Trinity University Press a public or private company?
Trinity University Press is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Trinity University Press founded?
Trinity University Press was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Trinity University Press based?
Trinity University Press is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trinity University Press make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are academic Sales and subsidiary Rights.
Who are Trinity University Press's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Georgia Press, Texas Tech University Press, University of Arizona Press, Heyday Books, Milkweed Editions, University of New Mexico Press, University of Texas Press and Texas A&M University Press. Yale University Press is listed as a broad incumbent. Counterpoint Press is listed as an emerging player.
Does Trinity University Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trinity University Press.
What industry is Trinity University Press in?
Trinity University Press's product category is Academic & Literary Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJABAJ, Research Monographs & University Press Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAFAE, Humanities & Arts Scholarly Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.