From humble beginnings in 1876 as Texas' first public institution of higher learning, to a bustling 5,000-acre campus with 46,000-plus students and a nationally recognized faculty, Texas A&M University is one of a select few universities with land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations. With an enrollment of about half men and half women, 25 percent of the freshman class are the first in their family to attend college and 8,500 are graduate students. Texas A&M has two branch campuses, one in Galveston, Texas, and one in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar.

This research-intensive flagship university with 10 colleges was recently ranked first in the nation by The Washington Monthly for "tangible contributions to the public interest." U.S. News and World Report ranked Texas A&M third nationally as a "best value" among public universities. Many degree programs are ranked among the top 10 in the country.

With more than 120 undergraduate degree programs for students to choose from, the university enrolls one of the 10 largest student bodies in the nation-and the largest outside a major metropolitan area. Texas A&M offers a comprehensive selection of 240 master's and Ph.D. degree programs and the only doctor of veterinary medicine in the state. Numerous programs have earned top rankings by U.S. News and World Report and other organizations. The university's academic and social support networks are focused on helping students succeed. Texas A&M's ability to produce effective leaders with extraordinary character, integrity, and a "can-do" attitude, truly sets it apart from other universities.