About Us
Discover East Texas A&M
East Texas A&M transforms lives! Our main campus is situated just 60 miles northeast of Dallas, with additional sites located throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth region. We serve nearly 13,000 students through more than 140 academic degree programs. As a Carnegie-classified R2 research university and a proud NCAA Division I institution, East Texas A&M combines academic excellence with top-tier athletics to foster a vibrant, success-driven community.
Our Mission
Transform Lives.
East Texas A&M By the numbers
/
$14M
Awarded Annually
in Scholarships
/
89%
Alumni Working Full-
Time in Six Months
/
23%
Top 23% in the Nation for
Social Mobility
/
17:1
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio
/
38
States
Represented
/
61
Countries
Represented
10 REASONS TO LOVE EAST TEXAS A&M
Quality Academic Programs
From accounting to electrical engineering, East Texas A&M offers around 140 academic degrees from six university colleges. U.S. News & World Report has ranked several programs at East Texas A&M among the top in Texas and the nation, including our #2 (in Texas) online bachelor’s programs!
vibrant and FRIENDLY 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 can participate in an exciting campus experience through a thriving Greek community and 100+ student organizations.
R2 RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
East Texas A&M is proud of its designation as a Carnegie-classified R2 institution. This designation underscores the university’s dedication to research and innovation, offering both undergraduate and graduate students unparalleled access to cutting-edge research opportunities.
NCAA D1 ATHLETICS
The East Texas A&M Lions are an athletic powerhouse! In 2025, the Lions became full NCAA Division I members, competing in the Southland Conference in numerous sports, including football, basketball, softball and volleyball.
Convenient Learning Sites
East Texas A&M offers several learning sites across Dallas-Fort Worth and a large selection of online classes. The university’s newest site—East Texas A&M-Dallas—towers above North Central Expressway and places students in one of the nation’s global centers!
CAREER SUPPORT for success
The university's Student Career Preparedness office helps match students with internships and job opportunities in top-notch industries. From crafting strong resumes to refining interview skills, our career readiness resources can give students a competitive edge in the job market.
Hands-on Agriculture Program
East Texas A&M uniquely 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. Many of the top teachers and administrators in Texas come from East Texas A&M!
Show-Stopping Music Program
The university’s School of Music is highly sought 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.
STATE-OF-THE-ART LEARNING FACILITIES
Among ETAMU’s state-of-the-art facilities, a new 65,000-square-foot event center, currently under construction, will be the home to Lion Basketball and Volleyball. Our new agricultural center, also currently under construction, will serve as a hub for competitions, hands-on training, and other educational activities.
Explore our campus
Welcome to Lion Country! We can't wait to show you around! Click through our virtual map tours to explore the campus from the comfort of your own couch, and be sure to schedule an in-person tour to visit us soon!
history of East Texas A&M
Established in 1889, East Texas A&M proudly maintains a 137-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.