Texas A&M University-Texarkana, formerly East Texas State University at Texarkana, was established by the Texas Legislature in 1971 as an upper level operationally separate unit of the East Texas University Complex. In September 1996, the University became a member of The Texas A&M University System and is governed by the A&M Board of Regents. Like other Texas public colleges and universities, A&M-Texarkana also operates under the jurisdiction of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

• The mission of A&M-Texarkana is to provide residents of Northeast Texas with the broadest possible access to quality educational opportunities and services.
  
  
• Eighty-nine percent ofA&M-Texarkana's faculty hold a doctoral degree in their field of instruction.
  
  
• The teacher to student ratio is 1 to 19, with an enrollment of 1,500 students.
  
  
• The university produces quality graduates within a career-oriented curriculum at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in the areas of Business, Arts and Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, Education, and Health Professions.
  
  
• Govenor Rick Perry signed House Bill 1566 allowing A&M-Texarkana to have planning authority to become a four year university
  
  
• The City of Texarkana, Texas donated 300 acres to relocate the campus. The first building to be constructed will house the proposed College of Engineering and Information Sciences.