Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M International University traces its origins to August 1970, when the first students were admitted to what was then called Texas A&I University at Laredo. Initially designated as an extension center for Texas A&I University, the institution at Laredo focused on teacher education and business disciplines, offering only junior- and senior-level coursework that enabled local residents to complete bachelor’s degrees close to home. Graduate programs soon followed, expanding educational opportunities and establishing a legacy of higher education for South Texas.

In September 1977, the university became Laredo State University, and in 1987 its status as an extension center was officially removed. As enrollment increased and academic offerings expanded, new faculty were recruited and the institution’s mission broadened to meet the evolving educational, economic and cultural needs of the region.

A transformative milestone came on September 1, 1989, when the university joined The Texas A&M University System. Four years later, it was renamed Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), reflecting both its membership in one of the nation’s premier public university systems and its unique position at the crossroads of international cultures and commerce.

The 74th Texas Legislature further advanced the university’s trajectory by approving an expansion to four-year status in 1995 and authorizing the university to develop joint degree programs with Mexican and Canadian institutions of higher education. Additional legislative authorization later paved the way for doctoral-level programs, strengthening TAMIU’s role as a comprehensive regional university with global reach.

The year 1995 marked a watershed moment in the university’s history. TAMIU welcomed its first freshman and sophomore classes, celebrated its 25th anniversary, and inaugurated its beautiful 300-acre campus in northeast Laredo. Since then, the campus has completed multiple phases of its master plan, including a theatre in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, the Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center, the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, and the Academic Innovation Center, a three-story facility supporting engineering, science and innovation programs. In 2026, the university celebrated the reopening of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium with the addition of the Sonia and Memo Benavides Immersive Theatre, expanding opportunities for experiential learning, research and community engagement.

Today, Texas A&M International University serves more than 9,000 students and is home to four academic colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, including the Dr. F. M. Canseco School of Nursing. Building on a distinguished history spanning more than five decades, TAMIU continues to advance its mission of transforming lives through education, research and service while preparing students to lead and succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.

Mission

Texas A&M International University nurtures its students’ academic and social development through instruction, research and service to be responsible and productive members of our global society.

Vision

Texas A&M International University aspires to become a premier international university, serving as the agent of change for the people of the region, the nation and the world through multicultural teaching, research and service.

Values

• Respect: Respect individuals and their points of view.
• Integrity: Model ethical standards of personal and professional behaviors.
• Service: Serve the university, regional, national and international communities.
• Excellence: Strive for the highest quality in all endeavors.

To learn more about Texas A&M International University, visit tamiu.edu.