Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Commerce, Texas
92.6% Acceptance Rate
East Texas A&M University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
92.6%Acceptance Rate
3.36Avg GPA
1067Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$23,663Annual Cost
$50,296Grad Salary
40.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
92.6%
Avg GPA
3.36
Avg SAT
1067
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
940–1170
ACT Middle 50%
18–24
Avg Net Price
$11,268
Need-Based Aid
40.5% receive Pell
East Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce) is a public institution focused on professional degree programs. Admissions evaluate academic achievement and core unit completion. They favor students who show a strong desire for career preparation and a commitment to a collaborative academic environment.
East Texas A&M University Acceptance Rate
East Texas A&M University (A&M-Commerce) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 92.6% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 92.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.36 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.16 – 3.35
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.91
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
East Texas A&M University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
East Texas A&M University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of February 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 179 days left — Priority (Fall)
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
A&M-Commerce reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority (Fall)
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
A&M-Commerce GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at A&M-Commerce is 3.36. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.06–3.36 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.56–3.76.A&M-Commerce GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.36 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.16 – 3.35
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.96 – 3.15
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.95
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Public university in Commerce, TX (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce, rebranded East Texas A&M); senior-level institution in the Texas A&M University System; ACT code 4088, SAT code 6188.
- Average reported admitted GPA and acceptance rate vary by source (acceptance rates cited from 47% to 93% depending on year/aggregator) - this spread likely reflects year-over-year volatility post-rebrand rather than a single stable figure, so verify current-cycle numbers directly with admissions.
- $60 non-refundable enrollment fee is due in the FIRST semester, separate from any application fee - a distinct line item families should budget for after acceptance, not at application time.
- Offers a "Navarro Partnership" allowing students to attend ETAMU-affiliated classes at Midlothian or Corsicana, TX locations with a separate orientation contact - a real satellite-campus option beyond the main Commerce campus worth flagging for students in that region.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at A&M-Commerce
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on East Texas A&M University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
East Texas A&M University (A&M-Commerce) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if A&M-Commerce is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into A&M-Commerce Without SAT or ACT?
A&M-Commerce considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
East Texas A&M University Average SAT Score: 1067
The average SAT score of admitted students at East Texas A&M University is 1067 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1067 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1170 SAT or 24 ACT) to stand out. Below average? East Texas A&M University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 940, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at A&M-Commerce. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 520 | 460 | 580 |
| SAT Reading | 535 | 480 | 590 |
| SAT Composite | 1067 | 940 | 1170 |
Below 940, you're behind most admitted students; at 1170 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into East Texas A&M University (A&M-Commerce) with a 1150 SAT?
A 1150 SAT puts you ahead of most of A&M-Commerce's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
East Texas A&M University (A&M-Commerce) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at A&M-Commerce is 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 17 | 25 |
| ACT English | 19 | 15 | 23 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 18 | 24 |
Can I get into East Texas A&M University with a 24 ACT?
A 24 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of A&M-Commerce's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at A&M-Commerce.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for A&M-Commerce
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into A&M-Commerce is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Confirm a family recognizes the 2023 rebrand from Texas A&M University-Commerce - outdated materials, forms, and even some scholarship listings still reference the old name
East Texas A&M University is the same institution formerly known as Texas A&M University-Commerce; the rebrand affects everything from search results to scholarship directories (the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation listing, for example, still files the school under "tamu-commerce" in its own database). A family researching independently may encounter conflicting name references and wonder if they're looking at two different schools, or miss scholarship/transfer-articulation paperwork still filed under the old institutional name. Confirm early in any conversation that "Texas A&M-Commerce" and "East Texas A&M University" are the identical institution, since some legacy forms and partner-institution systems haven't fully updated.
Target automatic admission via EITHER class rank OR a single test-score threshold - know both paths since a student only needs to clear one
ETAMU grants automatic admission to freshman applicants who EITHER graduate in the top 30% of their class OR achieve an ACT composite above 21 OR a new SAT (combined EBRW+Math) above 1060 - these are independent, alternative paths, not stacked requirements. A student with a weaker class rank (e.g., top 50%) but a solid ACT score above 21 should still be coached to submit that score specifically to claim automatic admission, even though ETAMU is fundamentally test-optional for non-automatic review. Don't let "test-optional" framing cause a borderline-rank student to skip testing when a modest score could convert them from holistic-review to automatic-admit status.
Know the "Second Chance" admission pathway exists for students who stumbled at another four-year university first - but understand its real costs (probation status, lost scholarship eligibility)
ETAMU runs a distinctive "Second Chance" initiative: students who graduated high school, enrolled at ANOTHER four-year institution, and didn't perform as hoped can apply to ETAMU using FRESHMAN (not transfer) admission criteria if they don't meet standard transfer GPA requirements. If admitted, they enter on academic probation, face enrollment-hour limits in their first semester, and are required to retake failed core classes to rebuild GPA - AND are explicitly ineligible for freshman or transfer institutional scholarships. This is a genuine, named second-chance mechanism worth knowing for a student who had a rough first year elsewhere, but it should be presented honestly as a probationary, scholarship-free restart, not equivalent to standard transfer admission.
Submit official high school transcripts through junior year specifically - senior-year-complete transcripts aren't the standard initial submission
ETAMU's freshman application process explicitly asks for an official high school transcript "complete through their junior year," with class ranking and recommended/distinguished program participation included if available - not a full senior-year transcript at initial application. A family preparing application materials too early (before junior year coursework is finalized) or too late (waiting for final senior grades unnecessarily) may be working off the wrong transcript-completeness target; confirm the junior-year-complete standard specifically, then plan for a final transcript submission only after high school graduation as a separate, later step.
Expert Insight:
ETAMU explicitly states dual credit and outside coursework are NOT automatically accepted for credit per at least one third-party aggregator summary, but the university's own admissions pages simultaneously instruct applicants WITH dual credit coursework to submit transcripts from the institution that offered those classes specifically to receive transfer credit - a real, unresolved tension between sources. Don't tell a dual-credit student their credits definitely will or won't transfer without having ETAMU's Office of Undergraduate Admissions confirm course-by-course articulation directly, since the two pieces of available information point in different directions.
A&M-Commerce Profile
Full Name
East Texas A&M University (A&M-Commerce)
City
Commerce
State
Texas
ZIP Code
75428
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a A&M-Commerce Degree Worth It?
Whether A&M-Commerce is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $57,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.5%.
How much does a degree from A&M-Commerce Cost?
The sticker price is $23,663/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $11,268.
40.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 38.3% take federal loans at A&M-Commerce. File your FAFSA early and list A&M-Commerce as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a A&M-Commerce Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $50,296. That's about 24% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than East Texas A&M University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as East Texas A&M University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Point University | West Point, GA | 1059 | 19 |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | 1057 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than East Texas A&M University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
Degree Programs at A&M-Commerce
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About A&M-Commerce Admissions
Median graduate earnings at East Texas A&M University run about $50,296 a year.
At about $23,663 a year, East Texas A&M University is on the more affordable end.
About 40.5% receive a Pell Grant at East Texas A&M University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 92.6%, East Texas A&M University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at East Texas A&M University average a 3.36 GPA.
East Texas A&M University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.06 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.96, East Texas A&M University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at East Texas A&M University — aim above 1067, ideally within the 940–1170 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for East Texas A&M University is February 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.