4,796
Texas A&M International University values its connection to the Texas A&M University System, but the school is also intent on cultivating its own reputation as a thriving bilingual and bicultural community. The university’s international scope is reflected in its global programs, its diverse student body, and its location at the gateway to Mexico.
Originally established in 1970 to fulfill a demand for teachers and business leaders in Laredo and surrounding communities, TAMIU in recent years has expanded its programs, size, and enrollment in an effort to serve the equally fast-growing city of Laredo. Today its undergraduate and graduate student enrollment totals more than 5,800 students. Undergraduate programs in the arts and sciences receive the highest enrollments, and the A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business is top-ranked. The university recently dedicated the state-of-the-art Value-Investing Trading Room and Technology Center, which expands the finance studies program. Degree programs in early childhood education, criminal justice, and nursing have the highest enrollments among TAMIU’s nearly 4,800 undergraduates.
The Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center offers healthy diversion, while students participate in more than 45 organizations, ranging from student juggler and biology clubs to ballet folklórico. Eleven sports teams compete in the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference. Expansion continues on the 300-acre campus: the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts is completing a new auditorium, and the Student Success Center broke ground last fall. Located on former ranchland in northeast Laredo, the campus is now considered a catalyst for much of the city’s residential and commercial growth.