How to Get Into Texas A&M University: Admissions Stats + Tips
What’s Covered?
- How Hard Is It to Get Into Texas A&M University?
- Average Academic Profile of Accepted Texas A&M University Students
- What is Texas A&M University Looking For?
- How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Texas A&M University
- How To Apply To Texas A&M University
- Learn More About Texas A&M University
Founded in 1876, Texas A&M University has the distinction of being the oldest institution of higher education in Texas. Established initially as a military institution, Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets (also founded in 1876) is the university’s oldest student organization and is the largest uniformed body of students outside the U.S. military academies. Texas A&M has grown considerably since its founding as an Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) college—today, it’s home to 17 academic colleges and offers more than 130 undergraduate degrees.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Texas A&M University?
Getting into Texas A&M University is a challenge. The university received 43,307 applications to its Class of 2025, of which it accepted just 27,287 students. This equates to a 63% overall acceptance rate.
Texas A&M’s acceptance rate is low, but your actual chances of acceptance are centered on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine can help you better understand your odds of getting into Texas A&M. Our free admissions calculator considers a variety of factors—including your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars—to estimate your odds of admission as well as to provide tips to improve your profile!
Average Academic Profile of Accepted Texas A&M University Students
SAT/ACT
The middle 50% SAT score of Texas A&M’s Class of 2025 is 1170-1380. The middle 50% ACT score is 26-32.
Class Rank
Texas A&M didn’t report the average high school GPA of its Class of 2025. However, understand that it largely consists of students with excellent academic profiles—65.84% of the university’s Class of 2025 graduated in the top tenth of their high school.
What is Texas A&M University Looking for?
Texas A&M University is a state school and, according to its 2020-2021 Common Data Set, considers state residency as “important” to admissions. In-state students make up the bulk of Texas A&M’s classes; in 2017, 94.8% of undergraduates in College Station were from Texas and all 192 Texas counties are represented in the school’s Class of 2025. Texas residents are also favored with a particular admissions advantage—those who rank in the top 10% of their graduating class qualify for automatic admission to any state school in Texas, including Texas A&M.
While out-of-state students are in the minority at Texas A&M, they’re still a presence on campus, with 44 states represented in the university’s Class of 2025. Applicants who don’t rank in the top 10% of their graduating class or who are from out-of-state are selected through a holistic admissions process. Admissions officers will consider academic and non-academic factors when evaluating these applicants in search of intelligent, inquisitive students who will add to the university’s vibrant student life.
How Texas A&M University Evaluates Applications
According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, Texas A&M University considers the following factors “very important”:
- Course rigor
- Class rank
- GPA
- Test scores
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent
These factors are “important”:
- Essay
- First generation
- State residence
- Geographic location
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
These are “considered”:
- Recommendations
- Character
- Applicant interest
And these are “not considered”:
- Interview
- Racial/ethnic status
- Religious affiliation
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Texas A&M University
1. Achieve the best possible GPA while taking the most challenging classes available
Texas A&M university places substantial weight on academics. The university considers both class rank and GPA “very important” to admissions. The university did not report the average high school GPA of its Class of 2025, however, it’s safe to assume it’s very good considering 65.84% of the class graduated in the top tenth of their high school.
Selective schools that receive a huge number of applications, like Texas A&M, often use a tool known as the Academic Index to ease the admissions process. Academic Index is a summary of your entire academic performance represented by a single numerical score. If your Academic Index fails to meet Texas A&M’s standards, you risk being viewed as unqualified and not having your application receive serious consideration.
If your GPA is substandard, and you’re early in your high school career, there is still time to raise it. Check out our tips for increasing your GPA. If you’re a junior or senior, it’s more difficult to bring your GPA up to standard. Rather, the best method to improve your Academic Index is to earn a high test score.
Great grades are important to Texas A&M admissions, but so are the courses you earned them in. The school views course rigor as “very important” to admissions decisions, and Texas A&M students commonly have taken the most challenging coursework available to them in high school. Competitive applicants will often have completed between five and eight AP classes in high school on their way to becoming an Aggie.
2. Aim for a 1380 SAT and 32 ACT
Texas A&M University considers standardized test scores as “very important” to admissions. The middle 50% SAT/ACT scores of Texas A&M’s Class of 2025 are 1170-1380/26-32. Any score in the middle 50% of accepted students is satisfactory, but the closer to the 75th percentile you get, the better your odds of admission become.
Texas A&M will practice test-optional admissions for the Fall and Spring 2022 admissions cycles. That said, CollegeVine recommends taking either the SAT or ACT if you can do so safely and submitting scores that meet or exceed the 25th percentile of admitted students. Applicants who submit test scores are admitted at higher rates than those who do not. You can get recommendations on whether or not you should apply test-optional using our free chancing engine.
Texas A&M does not superscore the SAT or ACT. Applicants should plan on taking one of the exams between two and three times to ensure they submit the best score possible. A 2016 study found that 57% of ACT takers who retested improved their scores. To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources:
- How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
- How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
- More SAT Info and Tips
- More ACT Info and Tips
3. Cultivate strong extracurriculars
Extracurriculars are also “very important” to Texas A&M University admissions. To stand out among a crowded field of applicants, you’ll want a highly developed interest, known as a “spike,” with at least one or two impressive extracurricular activities (among a portfolio of more). The four tiers of extracurriculars are a good way to understand how a college weighs your activities outside of the classroom:
- Tier 1 is home to the most prestigious and rare extracurriculars. Tier 1 activities demonstrate exceptional achievement and great leadership and are highly valued by colleges. Tier 1 extracurriculars include winning a prominent national award, gaining national recognition for athletics or music, or attending a renowned merit-based summer program.
- Tier 2 is where activities that demonstrate great accomplishment and leadership—but are more common than those found in Tier 1—are placed. Examples of Tier 2 activities include winning a regional award, earning state-level recognition in athletics or music, or serving in a top leadership position like student body president.
- Tier 3 activities hold less weight than those found in the higher tiers and are better for showing your interests outside of the classroom rather than distinguishing yourself from other applicants. Tier 3 extracurriculars include captaining a varsity sport, getting selected for a regional ensemble, or serving in a leadership position such as class treasurer.
- Tier 4 extracurriculars are the least influential to college admissions. These activities highlight your interests but lack the merits of those in the higher tiers. Examples of Tier 4 extracurriculars include playing a sport or instrument, participating in a club, holding an after-school job, and general volunteer work.
4. Write engaging essays
Along with extracurricular activities, essays are how you show colleges the parts of yourself that don’t come across through the rest of your application. Texas A&M University wants to learn “what makes you you” and views the essay as “important” when making admissions decisions.
You’re required to complete the personal essay section of your application (either ApplyTexas or the Coalition Application). And if you’re applying to Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, you’ll also need to respond to a short-answer question. An attention-grabbing college essay is written in your unique voice and highlights both how you fit at a particular school and how that school will benefit from having you on campus. For Aggie-specific essay advice, check out our article, “How to Write the Texas A&M University Essays 2021-2022.”
5. Apply Early Action
With the exception of the College of Engineering’s Early Action (EA) admissions, Texas A&M University does not have an Early Decision or early application process in place. If you’re planning to apply to the College of Engineering, Early Action can give your odds of acceptance a boost. Texas A&M “considers” applicant interest when making admissions decisions and applying EA is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the university.
How to Apply to Texas A&M University
Deadlines
|
Application Timeline |
Deadline |
|
Early Action |
October 15 |
|
Regular Decision |
December 15 |
Application Requirements
Texas A&M University accepts the ApplyTexas and Coalition Application. Other requirements include:
- Essay
- Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
Other optional materials include:
- SAT/ACT Scores
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
Learn more about Texas A&M University
Interested in learning more about Texas A&M? Check out these other informative articles:
- How to Write the Texas A&M University Essays 2021-2022
- What is the Academic Common Market? What Schools Participate?
- What Is Automatic Admission to Texas Schools?
Want to know your chances at Texas A&M? Calculate your chances for free right now.
