“The Island University: the only US university on its own island, on the Gulf Coast's Ward Island.”
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is a public doctoral research university on Ward Island, making it the only university in the United States located on its own island. Founded in 1947 and a full member of the Texas A&M University System since 1993, the university occupies a 240-acre campus surrounded by Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas coast. A designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, TAMU-CC enrolls roughly 11,000 students and is classified as an R2 research university, reflecting significant growth in externally funded research over the past decade. Academically, TAMU-CC is organized around seven colleges: Business; Education and Human Development; Liberal Arts; Nursing and Health Sciences; Science and Engineering; Graduate Studies; and University College. It offers more than 85 degree programs including 33 undergraduate majors, 25 master's programs, and six doctoral programs. The university has built a national profile in marine and coastal sciences, unmanned aircraft systems (it operates one of six FAA-approved UAS test sites), geospatial engineering, and nursing; its Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies is a headline research center, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences produces a large share of the region's RNs and advanced practice nurses. Student life at TAMU-CC revolves around the Islanders identity, the island location, and the Gulf itself. Students sail from the campus marina, surf and kayak the bay, and compete in NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Over 130 student organizations, on-campus residential villages, and a strong Hispanic and first-generation student community make TAMU-CC a distinctive choice among Texas public universities, particularly for students who want coastal research opportunities or STEM-designated programs with OPT/STEM-OPT pathways after graduation.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research classification
Carnegie Classification
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourcePriority (Fall freshmen)
Final Regular Decision
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$9,748
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$20,794
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Home of TAMU-CC's coastal-sciences identity, including marine biology, environmental science, geospatial engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science, supported by the Harte Research Institute.
Produces a large share of South Texas's RN and advanced practice nursing workforce through BSN, MSN, DNP and PhD programs.
AACSB-accredited; programs in accounting, finance, management, marketing, and an MBA with concentrations in healthcare and international business.
Programs in communication, psychology, criminal justice, political science, art, music, and theatre.
Educator-preparation programs at bachelor's and graduate levels, plus EC-12 certification pathways.
4 years
Marquee program leveraging TAMU-CC's island campus, field labs on Gulf estuaries, and the Harte Research Institute for hands-on coastal research.
4 years
STEM-designated program combining GIS, remote sensing, and programming — feeds directly into TAMU-CC's drone/UAS research and federal geospatial employers.
4 years
One of South Texas's largest CCNE-accredited BSN programs, with traditional and second-degree accelerated tracks and strong clinical partnerships in the Coastal Bend.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $20,794
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
