Applying to Texas A&M University: What You Need to Know
Applying to Texas A&M has become increasingly competitive—but also full of opportunity! With strong academics, unique admission pathways, and a large incoming class, Texas A&M offers a world-class college education with accessibility and flexibility that’s hard to match.
A&M’s deep roots in service, community, and tradition create a community of trust that reflects the school’s core values:
Excellence – Striving for the highest quality in everything you do
Integrity – Being honest, ethical, and trustworthy
Leadership – Inspiring and guiding others positively
Loyalty – Showing dedication to the university, community, and each other
Respect – Valuing others and treating people with dignity
Selfless Service – Putting the needs of others before your own
The Texas Aggie alumni network of more than 500,000 living members is deeply connected, supportive, and highly engaged, with a culture of helping one another professionally, personally, and socially.
Attending Texas A&M University isn’t just an experience for the next four years; it’s a lifelong connection, identity, and state of mind.
Aggies by the Numbers
Like many major universities, Texas A&M has seen a sharp increase in the number of applicants over the past ten years. The large capacity of the school and number of available freshman class seats has allowed A&M to remain accessible to many students.
Applications received last year: ~80,000
Freshman class size: ~11,750 students
Acceptance rate: ~57–63%
What this means: While the overall acceptance rate looks moderate, competitive majors (like business and engineering) are much harder to get into.
Average GPA: ~3.6–3.8
Top 10% of class: A major advantage (automatic admission for Texas students)
SAT range (middle 50%): 1160–1390
For more selective majors (like business at Mays), students often need:
GPA closer to 3.8+
SAT 1300+
Applying early matters:
Application opens: August 1
Priority/Early deadline for Engineering: October 15
Final deadline: December 1
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Spots in competitive majors fill early. During the 2026 application cycle, the Mays Business School reached capacity by the end of October, meaning many highly qualified candidates who applied later in the application cycle were given their second-choice major.
* Students who apply in August–September have a clear advantage, especially for business and engineering.
Admissions
Automatic Admission (Top 10%)
Texas residents in the top 10% of their class are automatically admitted to the university (although not always their first-choice major).
Holistic Review
Students outside the top 10% are reviewed based on:
GPA & course rigor
SAT/ACT (if submitted)
Activities, leadership, and essays
Texas A&M also has three alternative entry pathways
1. Blinn TEAM
Blinn TEAM is an admission path that allows students to gain college credits at the Blinn Community College and A&M simultaneously, while still taking advantage of life as a Texas A&M student. As with all alternative enrollment options, there are rules and constraints to consider.
Students must enroll in 3-6 hours of class at A&M, and the remaining hours must be through Blinn.
Even if you successfully complete TEAM, you are not guaranteed entry into any specific major — only into the university. To enter a particular major (especially competitive ones), you must meet that department’s criteria and complete its entry process.
You are a Texas A&M student while in TEAM — you can live on campus, join Greek life, the Corps, student orgs, athletics clubs, etc.
2. Gateway Program
Gateway is a summer provisional admission pathway that lets you earn full admission into Texas A&M by completing a short summer session focused on core coursework and academic transition skills.
Gateway to Success (often just called Gateway or AGS) is a provisional admission program offered by the university for students who are admitted to Texas A&M but not quite fully admitted into a degree‑granting major right away. It gives you a structured summer experience to demonstrate academic readiness for full enrollment.
You are admitted to Texas A&M through the regular admissions process — you cannot apply directly to Gateway and aren’t offered it as a choice. It’s selected by the Office of Admissions based on your application.
Once offered, you’re enrolled as a General Studies (GEST) student — a transitional major that allows you to start at TAMU and then change into your intended major later if you meet that department’s requirements.
Summer Coursework Includes
2 assigned core curriculum courses (standard academic classes that earn college credit)
2 Gateway Learning Community courses focused on academic success skills, adjustment to college, and resources
You’re required to live on campus during the summer session.
How You Move Forward
To gain full admission to Texas A&M and continue into the fall semester as an enrolled student, you must:
Complete all assigned courses
Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0
Abide by the Aggie Code of Honor (no scholastic dishonesty)
Once you successfully finish the summer program, you continue as a full student — still in General Studies — and then work with advising through Transition Academic Programs to change into your intended major when you meet that major’s requirements.
3. PSA (Program for System Admission)
PSA gives eligible students the opportunity to start at a participating Texas A&M System institution (like Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and others) for one year with the goal of transferring to the main campus in College Station after successful completion of the program’s requirements.
Choose a Participating Major
Only specific majors are available through PSA — not all majors at Texas A&M participate.
Enroll at a System Campus for One Year
You attend one of the Texas A&M System schools for the fall and spring semesters immediately after high school. You must complete at least 24 transferable credit hours during that year.
Maintain Required GPA
A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the system school and on all transferable coursework (including dual credit) is required to guarantee transfer admission to College Station.
In competitive tracks like engineering or architecture, sometimes a 3.25 cumulative GPA at the system school is required.
Submit Transfer Application
You need to submit a transfer application by early March for admission to Texas A&M the following fall.
Keep in mind:
PSA is not the same as being admitted directly to Texas A&M College Station. You aren’t officially a TAMU student at College Station until you successfully complete the PSA requirements and transfer.
Once you transfer to College Station, your major can still be competitive and may have separate requirements to stay in or change it later (especially for schools like business).
Some students choose PSA at a campus near where they live or take classes online, but policies vary by system school and you should confirm with an advisor.
Scholarships
If you are interested in scholarship opportunities, essays are submitted at the same time as your college application. Please allow time for this as they ask you to complete several essay questions!
New majors, Emerging Focus or Enhanced Majors
Sustainability & Environment
Interdisciplinary Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Life Sciences (expansion of Biology & Biomedical)
Neuroscience
Environmental Systems Science
Hospitality, Retail and Food Science
Maritime & Logistics (Galveston campus)
Cybersecurity
For a complete list of degrees and programs available at Texas A&M, see their website.