About Us
Discover East Texas A&M
At East Texas A&M University, we transform lives! With campuses across Dallas and surrounding regions, we proudly deliver 140+ academic degrees and serve around 13,000 students. In November 2024, we changed our name from Texas A&M University-Commerce to East Texas A&M University. Our new name celebrates our East Texas heritage and connects us to the communities we serve.
Our mission
We Transform Lives.
East Texas A&M By the numbers
#1
Fastest-Growing Public
University in Texas in Fall 2023
/
$12M
Awarded Annually
in Scholarships
/
89%
Alumni Working Full-
Time in Six Months
/
23%
Top 23% in the Nation for
Social Mobility
/
19:1
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio
/
41
States
Represented
/
59
Countries
Represented
10 Unique Qualities of East Texas A&M
Quality Academic Programs
From accounting to electrical engineering, East Texas A&M offers more than 140 academic degrees from six university colleges. U.S. News & World Report has ranked several programs at East Texas A&M University among the top in the nation.
Internships and Job Placement
The university's Student Career Preparedness office helps match students with internships and job opportunities in top-notch industries. From creating strong resumes to honing interview skills, Student Career Preparedness gives students an edge in the job market.
Welcoming Campus Culture
Known for its friendly campus atmosphere, East Texas A&M strives to help every student feel like a valued member of the Lion family. Students enjoy an exciting campus experience as they participate in a thriving Greek community and 115+ student organizations.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Among the university's many outstanding facilities, the Nursing and Health Sciences Building features a state-of-the-art simulation hospital where future healthcare leaders practice life-saving skills in a realistic clinical setting.
Convenient Learning Sites
East Texas A&M offers many learning sites across Dallas-Fort Worth as well as a large selection of online classes. The university’s newest site—East Texas A&M at Dallas—towers above North Central Expressway and places students in one of the nation’s global centers!
Entrepreneurship Program
Among the university's many innovative programs, Venture College empowers budding entrepreneurs to develop and launch their products and business ideas.
Hands-on Agriculture Program
East Texas A&M offers one of the nation's only agriculture colleges where students experiment with sustainable growing methods to produce their own wheat, cotton and corn crops on a 1,300-acre farm.
Leader in Texas Education
Founded in 1889 as a teachers’ college, East Texas A&M is a leading producer of certified Texas educators.
Show-Stopping Music Program
The university’s School of Music is highly sought after by aspiring musicians and music educators. East Texas A&M is an All-Steinway School, a designation bestowed by the prestigious Steinway & Sons piano company. The university is also the world’s first institution to receive a Spirio Technology designation.
Powerhouse NCAA Athletics Program
The East Texas A&M Lions are an athletic powerhouse. They claimed the 2017 NCAA Division II Football National Championship. In 2022, the Lions made a move to NCAA Division I as part of the Southland Conference.
Explore our campus
Welcome to Lion Country! We can't wait to show you around! Click through our virtual map tours to explore campus from your couch, and be sure to schedule a tour and come see us soon!
history of East Texas A&M
Established in 1889, East Texas A&M University proudly maintains a 135-year legacy of excellence. East Texas A&M is the third-largest university in the prestigious Texas A&M University System.
Historical Timeline
- 1889–William Leonidas Mayo founded East Texas Normal College in Cooper, Texas.
- 1894–The Cooper site was destroyed by fire, and the university moved to its present-day location in Commerce.
- 1917–On March 14, a bill passed in the state legislature making the university a state-funded college. On the same day, Professor Mayo died suddenly before receiving the news that his college would live on. Subsequently, the name changed to East Texas State Normal College.
- 1923–The school was renamed East Texas State Teachers College.
- 1935–Graduate education entered the curriculum.
- 1957–The state legislature, recognizing that the university had broadened from teacher education alone, changed the university's name to East Texas State College.
- 1962–The first doctoral program was inaugurated.
- 1965–The university's name changed to East Texas State University.
- 1996–The university's name changed to Texas A&M University-Commerce when the university joined The Texas A&M University System.
- 2024–A&M-Commerce became East Texas A&M University when The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the name change on November 7.