How to Apply to Mathematics at Texas A&M University: Choose a Major and Second Choice on the Application or Change In Later, With B.A., B.S. and Applied Mathematics Degrees, for US Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Texas A&M University (TAMU) offers its undergraduate mathematics degrees at the College Station campus through the Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences. This guide follows the department, the admissions office and the 2026-27 undergraduate catalog, with sections for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, and a final section for transfer students. Computer science is not covered here, and neither are statistics or engineering.

1. Degrees and options

• B.A. in Mathematics: the department describes a traditional liberal-arts education in mathematics with electives in related fields. A minor is required (15–18 credit hours; it shows on the transcript but not on the diploma). Students can pursue teaching certification, and with the right electives can prepare for professional degrees in education, law and medicine (the department’s wording). The catalog’s sample plan totals 120 credit hours.
• B.S. in Mathematics: explores mathematical problems and their interplay with science and engineering, with electives in science and related fields; the catalog says it prepares students for technological industries or financial markets and, with the right electives, for quantitative graduate programs including mathematics PhDs. The sample plan also totals 120 credit hours.
• Common core (from the sample plans): MATH 171–172 (Calculus I and II), MATH 221 (several-variable calculus), MATH 300 (foundations of mathematics), MATH 308 (differential equations), MATH 323 (linear algebra), MATH 409 (analysis on the real line) and upper-level math electives. The B.S. adds algebra (MATH 415 with 416 or 472), MATH 410 or 446, MATH 411 or STAT 414, at least one of MATH 427, 431, 436 and 439, a programming course (CSCE 110, 111 or 206) and science electives; the B.A. adds STAT 211, one of MATH 415, 423 and 433, and minor electives. Check the catalog for the exact requirements.
• B.S. in Applied Mathematics: a separate degree with seven emphases listed by the department (actuarial science, biological science, computational science, cryptography, economics, mathematics and statistics). When describing how to transfer in, the department refers to “MATH or APMT” (the applied mathematics code). It is not covered in detail here.
• Other options: a mathematics minor, teacher certification, an honors program (below) and a five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s programme (called FastTrack on the honors page). Students can also do independent study with faculty or join NSF-funded research programmes (REU).
• Department course rules: foundation courses (MATH 150 if needed, 171, 172, 221, 300, 308, 323) need a C or better; calculus foundation courses (150, 171, 172, 221) may be attempted only twice and other math courses three times; MATH 172 must be completed before the start of the fifth long semester or the student is asked to change majors; at least one math course is required each semester; at most two Ds are allowed in upper-level (325–499) math courses.

2. How admission works: name a major on the application, or change in later

• At application: the catalog says freshman applicants indicate a major, and a competitive applicant who cannot be admitted to a major because of restricted enrollment is offered the second-choice major; if that is full, an alternate major must be chosen after admission. For Texas top-10% automatic admits, choice of major is not guaranteed. The pages read do not say whether mathematics itself is a restricted-enrollment major; please ask admissions or the department.
• Moving into the department later: students at other departments of Texas A&M need an overall GPA of at least 3.0, at least a 3.0 GPA in math courses taken at Texas A&M, and completion of MATH 147, 151 or 171. The department also points to tap.tamu.edu for requirements for changing majors to MATH or APMT; that site was not read.
• Calculus entry point: the department says that math and applied-math majors without Calculus I credit should take MATH 171 (the math and science version, which emphasizes definitions, theorems and proofs) rather than MATH 151 (the engineering version, more applied and using Python); a student who took MATH 151 before changing to mathematics does not need to retake 171. From fall 2026 the prerequisite for MATH 172 is a C or better in MATH 147, 151 or 171 and a C or better in MATH 150 or an acceptable score on the TAMU Math Placement Exam (MPE). The MPE cut scores were not read (the information is on a third-party site).
• High school preparation: Texas high school graduates must meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy (for example SAT benchmarks of 480 EBRW and 530 Math, or completion of the Texas foundation, recommended or distinguished program); out-of-state and foreign high schools and home schools are exempt. The catalog states no math-specific high-school requirement for the mathematics major.
• AP, IB and exam credit (catalog): AP Calculus AB with a 3 earns MATH 142 (3 hours) and with a 4 earns MATH 151 (4 hours); BC with a 3 earns MATH 151 and with a 4 earns MATH 151 and 152 (8 hours); AP Statistics with a 3 earns STAT 201; AP Precalculus with a 3 earns MATH 102. IB Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches HL with a 5 earns MATH 150, with several other combinations listed. The department’s FAQ advises accepting math AP credit only with a score of 5 and if you want to take the next course, notes that credit cannot be removed once accepted, and says some AP credits (for example Statistics) are at a lower level than math majors need.
• Honors: the department says math majors who complete seven honors mathematics courses can graduate with Honors in Mathematics. Qualified entering freshmen are invited at their new student conferences; any math major with a GPA of at least 3.5 can ask the director to join if the seven courses can still be completed before graduation. Members must keep a 3.5 GPA and take at least one honors math course each academic year.
• Math competitions: the pages read do not say how they are viewed in admission.

3. Rounds, materials and testing (fall 2027 entry)

• Application period (College Station): fall 2027 runs from 1 August 2026 to 1 December 2026, with other required documents due by 15 December 2026; spring 2027 runs from 1 August to 15 October 2026 (the Galveston campus page notes different spring dates for international freshmen, which is outside this guide). If a deadline falls on a weekend, the application systems stay open until the following Monday.
• How to apply: Common App or ApplyTexas; the choice does not affect the decision.
• Fee: $75 for domestic undergraduate applicants and $90 for international applicants; fee waivers are not available for international students.
• Essay: Essay Topic A is required (“Tell us your story: what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”).
• Transcript: freshman applicants fill in the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) with courses, credits, grades, GPA and class rank if available, at least through junior year; admitted students send a final transcript by 15 August.
• Recommendations: optional; only the first two received are considered. The website does not say whether mathematics applicants need a math teacher’s letter.
• Testing: the catalog says Texas A&M is test optional for freshman applicants and that submitting scores brings no advantage or disadvantage; the same catalog says SAT or ACT scores will be considered in the review of international freshman applicants. These two statements coexist, so international applicants should confirm with admissions. SAT code 6003, ACT code 4198; scores must be from within five years of enrollment.
• Review and decisions: decisions begin on 1 September and continue through the application period; for fall, a final decision may not come until late March. A limited number of applicants may be offered provisional admission requiring a summer programme.

4. US domestic applicants

• Texas residents: the catalog says Texas high school applicants ranked in the top 10% of their class are automatically admitted if they meet the Uniform Admission Policy and curriculum requirements, but choice of major is not guaranteed. Other applicants are reviewed holistically, including extracurricular time commitment, leadership and special talents, community service, awards, employment, and family educational background and household income.
• Costs: the 2026-27 catalog estimates about $33,180 for a nine-month year for Texas residents (tuition and fees, housing and food, books, transportation and miscellaneous). Incoming Texas-resident freshmen can choose a variable-rate tuition plan or a locked-rate plan that holds the rate for 12 consecutive semesters.
• Aid: apply with the FAFSA; see section 7 for scholarships.

5. International applicants

• Who counts: the admissions office defines an international student as someone who is not a US citizen or permanent resident (or applicant for permanent residency) and who has not graduated and will not graduate from a Texas high school after three years of residing in Texas.
• Academic expectations: the catalog says applicants should complete an educational programme that allows admission to a university in their home country (for example Grade 13, Form 6 or three A-levels after GCSEs), that successful applicants rank near the top of their country’s system (B average or better) and score well above average on national exams, and that appropriate college-preparatory coursework is required. Proof of secondary school graduation is needed, typically a diploma, leaving certificate or official examination results.
• Records: official records for all secondary and university study, bearing an original seal or signature and mailed by the school directly to the admissions office, with official English translations when not in English. The catalog strongly recommends an evaluation from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member (document-by-document with GPA for high school, course-by-course for non-US university work); an evaluation speeds processing but does not replace the transcript.
• English proficiency (catalog, for those whose spoken language is not English): TOEFL iBT 80 (within two years); TOEFL Essentials 8.5; IELTS 6.0 overall; SAT EBRW 560; ACT English 21; or four years of US high school; or transfer from an accredited US institution with at least 30 semester credit hours including ENGL 103 or 104 with a C or better. The catalog also says to see the admissions website for acceptable English tests for 2026; that site was not read, so whether Duolingo and other tests are accepted is unknown.
• Funding and aid: the catalog says only a limited number of scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans are available to international students; applicants with financial need are encouraged to complete the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) each year and to contact Scholarships & Financial Aid.
• Costs: the catalog estimates about $62,272 for a year for non-resident or international students; international students also pay fees such as a $150 International Student Services Fee and orientation fees.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not mention the Gaokao. Whether and how it is used is not published; ask the admissions office.
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: the international record requirements in section 5 apply (official records, English translations, credential evaluation recommended). Requirements for huikao or similar materials were not read.
• China-specific guidance: not published in the pages read. The admissions office has regional advisors you can contact.

7. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see sections 4 and 5.
• Department scholarships: the department uses one online application (open 15 October to 1 February each year) for its endowed scholarships, and all continuing students can apply; some awards are limited to US citizens. Examples: the Mary and Robert N. Walker Endowed Scholarship goes to a freshman mathematics major ($1,000, renewable three more years); the Elizabeth Wade Lepley Endowed Scholarship in the College of Science ($1,250, preference to freshmen with financial need, US citizens); the Koss scholarships ask freshmen to have graduated in the top 25% of their high school class and sophomores and above to hold a 3.2 GPA; the G. Alan Cannon ’88 scholarship gives preference to BS Math, BA in Math (certification) or the BS applied mathematics math option; and actuarial scholarships are funded by Aon and the Southwest Actuarial Forum. Sophomores and juniors with 30–94 credit hours can also apply for Academic Achievement in Mathematics Scholarships of $250–$1,000 (deadline 1 February). Check the department for current amounts.
• Outcomes: the department’s overview lists career areas such as mathematical modeling in biology, physics, economics and statistics, pure math applications in computer science, business, and teaching at college and high school level, naming actuarial work, image processing, video games and film special effects. It prints no employment data.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: spring 2027 from 1 August to 15 October 2026; summer/fall 2027 from 1 January to 1 March 2027 (College Station and McAllen). Apply through Common App or ApplyTexas; Essay Topic A is required, and the entire application is considered.
• Requirements: the catalog says transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 GPA on at least 24 graded transferable semester hours to be competitive. The College of Arts and Sciences section says transfer GPA requirements vary by major with most needing 3.0 to be competitive, that STEM majors pay close attention to required math and science courses, that second-choice majors are considered, and that applicants with 90 hours may not be considered for some majors. An essay on why you chose the major is required.
• Math transfer course sheet (2026-27, BA and BS): the sheet on the department’s website gives a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, a minimum of 24 and maximum of 90 transferable hours, and says second-choice majors are eligible. The required coursework for admission (four courses, each completed with a B or better) is Engineering Math I and II (MATH 151 and 152, 4 hours each; MATH 2413 and 2414) and 8 hours of approved science (chemistry CHEM 119/120, biology BIOL 111/112, astronomy ASTR 111 or physics PHYS 206/226 and 207/227). If AP credit is accepted for any of these, additional math (MATH 2315/2415 and/or 2320) or science courses must be taken with a B or better to meet the four-course criterion, and the combined GPA for these courses must be at least 3.0; no D or F is allowed unless the course was retaken with a C or better and the 3.0 still holds. Pre-calculus transfers but does not satisfy the mathematics requirement, and in exceptional cases up to 8 hours of math above Calculus II can replace approved science. The department also lists an applied mathematics transfer sheet, which was not read. The sheet prints its validity period as applicants applying between 1 August 2026 and 15 October 2027, so check it.
• Spring grades and credit: fall applicants asked for spring grades must have a complete application by 1 March and spring transcripts by 1 June. Courses are evaluated individually; for courses not in the equivalency tables, email math-advising@tamu.edu with a detailed syllabus (textbook, learning objectives and weekly schedule). Math foundation courses should be taken at Texas A&M whenever possible.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• 1 August to 1 December 2026 via Common App or ApplyTexas; $75; Essay Topic A; STARS; testing optional
• Name a major and a second choice; FAFSA; department scholarship application (15 October–1 February)

International applicants (including China):

• Same period; $90 fee; official records with English translation, credential evaluation recommended
• English: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, SAT EBRW 560 or ACT English 21 (other tests: see the admissions website)
• After entry: take MATH 171 and check the placement exam requirement

Transfer students:

• Summer/fall 1 January–1 March 2027; at least 24 graded hours; 2.5 GPA minimum and about 3.0 for most arts and sciences majors
• Engineering Math I and II plus 8 hours of approved science with a B or better (math transfer sheet); keep syllabi for credit review

Sources: Texas A&M University, Mathematics: undergraduate program; Mathematics: applied mathematics; Mathematics: advising and department policies; Mathematics: transferring in; Mathematics: FAQ; Mathematics: honors; Mathematics: scholarships; Mathematics: MATH 171 vs 151; Mathematics: 2026-27 transfer course sheet (BA/BS, PDF); 2026-27 catalog: BA in Mathematics; 2026-27 catalog: BS in Mathematics; 2026-27 catalog: admission; 2026-27 catalog: tuition and fees; Admissions: freshman; Admissions: international; Admissions: transfer; Admissions: costs and tuition. The information is for fall 2027 entry; check Texas A&M for the latest. The admissions-office site that holds the English-test list was not read, and neither was the applied mathematics transfer course sheet.