Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
College Station, Texas
63.3% Acceptance Rate
Texas A&M University-College Station — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
63.3%Acceptance Rate
3.68Avg GPA
1272Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$32,085Annual Cost
$72,097Grad Salary
19.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
63.3%
Avg GPA
3.68
Avg SAT
1272
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1140–1380
ACT Middle 50%
25–31
Avg Net Price
$20,924
Need-Based Aid
19.2% receive Pell
Texas A&M University-College Station, established in 1876, is Texas's first public institution and a flagship research university with strengths in engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine.
The 5,200-acre campus includes the Bush School of Government, the Engineering Innovation Center, and the world's largest veterinary teaching hospital. Aggie traditions like the Corps of Cadets foster a unique campus culture.
Texas A&M University-College Station Acceptance Rate
Texas A&M University-College Station takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 63.3% each year.
What TAMU Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 63.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.68 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.48 – 3.67
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.23
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Texas A&M University-College Station Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark October 15 for Texas A&M University-College Station (Early Action (Engineering) — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 68 days left — Early Action (Engineering)
Early Action (Engineering)
October 15
Regular Decision
December 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 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.
TAMU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at TAMU is 3.68. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.38 and 3.68? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.88–4.08.TAMU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.68 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.48 – 3.67
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.28 – 3.47
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.27
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test scores are now required (not optional) for the 2025-26 cycle for most applicants - confirm current policy directly with TAMU admissions, since sources disagree on recent test-optional status and this is a frequent point of confusion.
- No Early Action or Early Decision for general applicants; Engineering has a separate EA-like early-file recommendation (Oct. 15) and the general priority deadline is December 1 - about a month earlier than many peer publics.
- Required: one 750-word essay (Topic A) plus two required 250-word short answers; a third short answer is optional but recommended for students not on the auto-admit track.
- 94-96% of enrolled students are Texas residents, and about 25% are first-generation college students - useful context for setting realistic odds with out-of-state families.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
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 TAMU
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Texas A&M University-College Station's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at TAMU. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into TAMU Without SAT or ACT?
Test scores are mandatory at TAMU. Book your SAT/ACT dates early and plan on a retake if your score comes in under the averages below.
Texas A&M University-College Station Average SAT Score: 1272
Admitted students at Texas A&M University-College Station average a 1272 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1272 — Slightly Competitive
A 1272 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1380 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Texas A&M University-College Station allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1140? A retake is worth it at TAMU. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 635 | 570 | 700 |
| SAT Reading | 625 | 570 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1272 | 1140 | 1380 |
A score under 1140 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1380+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU) with a 1400 SAT?
At 1400, your SAT is squarely in TAMU's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU) ACT Requirements
TAMU's admitted students average an ACT of 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
An average of 28 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 24 | 29 |
| ACT English | 28 | 23 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 31 |
Can I get into Texas A&M University-College Station with a 31 ACT?
At 31, you're in the top quarter of TAMU's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, TAMU weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for TAMU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
TAMU is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Know which admission pool the student falls into before drafting anything
Texas A&M splits applicants into two tracks: Texas residents in the top 10% of their class get automatic admission to the university (though not automatically to a competitive major), while everyone else - out-of-state, international, and non-top-10% Texas residents - goes through holistic review with admit rates that can run well below 30% for competitive colleges. Counselors should identify the student's track first, since it changes which parts of the application actually matter.
Use the required short answers to do double duty, not repeat the main essay
Beyond the required 750-word "Tell us your story" prompt (which TAMU explicitly says can be a recycled Common App personal statement), applicants must answer two required short-answer prompts at 10-250 words each: a life event that prepared them for college, and the person who's most impacted their life. Push students to map out all three topics before writing any of them, since the short answers are easy to let overlap with the main essay if not planned deliberately.
For engineering or CS applicants, explain Entry-to-a-Major (ETAM) before they apply, not after they're admitted
Texas A&M's College of Engineering admits students into general engineering first; only after completing first-year coursework do students compete for placement into a specific major like mechanical or computer engineering, with roughly 70% recently earning their first-choice major and about 82-85% getting first or second choice. Set expectations early that "admitted to TAMU Engineering" is not the same as "admitted to Computer Science," and that first-year GPA in specific gateway courses drives the ETAM placement outcome.
Build a true Aggie-values narrative, not a generic "I love the Spirit" essay
TAMU's culture runs on specific, citable touchstones - the Corps of Cadets, Fish Camp, the Aggie Core Values (Integrity, Respect, Loyalty, Leadership, Selfless Service, Excellence), and SEC-scale traditions - that show up in admissions messaging and that essay readers can spot a mile away when name-dropped without substance. Coach students to tie one or two specific values to an actual personal example rather than listing campus landmarks.
Expert Insight:
The most common failure pattern: out-of-state or non-top-10% students assume the 57-67% headline acceptance rate (reported figures vary by cycle and source) applies to them, when in reality their effective odds - especially for Engineering, Business, or Nursing - are much closer to 30-35%. Counselors should walk these students through the holistic-review factors (rigor, test scores, essays, demonstrated interest) explicitly rather than letting the overall rate set false expectations.
TAMU Profile
Full Name
Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU)
City
College Station
State
Texas
ZIP Code
77843-1246
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a TAMU Degree Worth It?
At $32,085/year against a $72,097 median graduate salary, TAMU is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $67,200, and graduates see a 3.35% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from TAMU Cost?
Listed tuition runs $32,085/year at TAMU. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $20,924.
At TAMU, 19.2% receive a Pell Grant and 26.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming TAMU on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a TAMU Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, TAMU graduates report a median income of $72,097, about 78% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Texas A&M University-College Station. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Texas A&M University-College Station. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | 1280 | 28 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Texas A&M University-College Station. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at TAMU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About TAMU Admissions
Texas A&M University-College Station graduates earn a moderate median salary of $72,097/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Texas A&M University-College Station is moderate, around $32,085/year; many students supplement with aid.
19.2% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. Texas A&M University-College Station skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Texas A&M University-College Station's acceptance rate is 63.3%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Texas A&M University-College Station students is 3.68, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.38 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Texas A&M University-College Station. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.28 or below makes admission tougher at Texas A&M University-College Station, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Texas A&M University-College Station weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1272, and within the 1140–1380 range, keeps you competitive.
Texas A&M University-College Station's deadline is October 15 (Early Action (Engineering)).
Texas A&M University-College Station charges an application fee of 75; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Texas A&M University-College Station's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.