Initially founded in 1889 by William Leonidas Mayo as East Texas Normal College, Texas A&M University Commerce is a premier regional four-year public research institution. As the second largest member of the statewide system, TAMUC enrolls more than 7,100 undergraduates and 6,000 post-graduates annually. Its main 140-acre rural campus in Commerce stands within just 60 miles from the booming business hub of Dallas-Fort Worth. Certain courses in the university's five academic colleges are also offered in Dallas, Rockwall, Mesquite, and online from anywhere. Texas A&M University Commerce has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 for individualized, personalized teaching.
Forbes magazine has ranked Texas A&M University Commerce as the 186th best college in the South and 253rd top research university in America. High school counselors nationwide named it the 104th best school in the U.S. News and World Report survey. Washington Monthly magazine distinguished TAMUC as the 190th best master's-level institution for civic engagement. It also earned a spot in the publication's "Best Bang for Buck" list. In particular, the College of Business at Texas A&M Commerce was placed among the best buys for Tier II schools in the Wall Street Journal. The university's designated as a federal Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) too.
Texas A&M University Commerce Accreditation Details
Texas A&M University Commerce has been formally accredited through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). This regional accreditation is recognized with the U.S. Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Several academic programs have gone the extra step to receive discipline-specific approvals. The College of Business has met the rigorous standards of the elite Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Accounting programs are aligned with requirements from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA).
Texas A&M University Commerce Application Requirements
With a selective acceptance rate of 47 percent, TAMUC has established strict admissions criteria that must be met for enrollment. Applicants to the Master of Science in Accounting program must already possess a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college. Any master's coursework could be transferred. Accounting students are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. Those with lower grades could be granted admissions with good GMAT/GRE scores. Passing all parts of the Uniform CPA exam is another option. International students must score at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.
Interested students wishing to attend Texas A&M University Commerce must apply via the Apply Texas application before the June 1st or October 15th deadlines. Students are given an ID and PIN number from the Graduate School. The following materials should be attached:
• Payment for the $50 application fee
• Official, sealed college transcripts
• GRE or GMAT score reports
• Proof of English proficiency
• One letter of recommendation
• Resume of work experience
Tuition and Financial Aid
Texas A&M University Commerce uses a "lock-in" rate to allow students to pay the same tuition throughout their studies. Graduate students who reside in Texas will pay $549 per credit hour. Non-residents pursuing a master's degree must afford $939 per credit hour. For those enrolling full-time with nine credits, graduates can expect paying $2,750 in-state or $6,260 out-of-state each semester. Residents of bordering states can pay the in-state rate and add only $30 extra for each credit hour. Master of Science in Accounting students will also pay the $250 student service fee every academic year. Textbooks, housing, and supplies aren't included.
After filing the FAFSA form, degree-seeking students at TAMUC can qualify for a wide variety of merit- and need-based financial aid. Students often borrow money through the Federal Direct, Federal Perkins, Grad Plus, or Texas College Access loans. Certain individuals could be eligible for the Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. In-state residents may receive the TEXAS Grant or Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG). Campus-based students may use Federal Work-Study (FWS) or graduate assistantships to pay their tuition. Veterans and military benefits are available. Scholarships are also abundant, including the Top 10% Scholarship, Pride Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, and Transfer Scholarship.
What Types Of Financial Aid Are Available For Graduate School?
Master of Science in Accounting
The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program at Texas A&M University Commerce was founded in 1995 to provide high-quality, accredited business education for graduate students who wish to specialize in accountancy. Students are trained on the advanced fundamentals of financial analysis to unlock career options in public, industry, government, and non-profit accounting. Courses in the 30-credit curriculum are approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA). Although the program is designed for learners with an undergraduate accounting major, those with no formal background in accounting are accepted. Up to 43 graduate credits may be required in this case.
Coursework in the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program can be completed in as little as 12 months full-time. Most required courses are available either on-campus in Commerce or online via Blackboard Learn. Students will explore various topics, including accounting research, management accounting, auditing, business law, forensic accounting, income taxation, accounting information systems, and business ethics. Free electives also range from international accounting and investment planning to sales franchise. Accounting majors with little work experience can participate in an optional internship. TAMUC has connections with Cinemark, Bank of America, KPMG, Price Waterhouse, and the IRS for valuable learning.
Outside the classroom, MSA students can work with departmental faculty to actively research and public journal articles related to accounting. The departments 19 full-time and adjunct faculty members all have achieved CPA credentials to deliver real-world education. Students can also join TAMUC's active Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society chapter to promote their networking in accounting and finance. Graduates of this AACSB-accredited program will possess the qualifications to pursue Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Management Accountant (CPA), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designations.
Other graduate students enrolling in the College of Business at Texas A&M University Commerce could be interested in earning the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Finance (MSF), M.S. in Marketing, or M.S. in Management.