[6] The history of East Texas A&M University commenced in 1889 with its establishment as East Texas Normal College (ETNC) in Cooper by Kentucky native William L. Mayo as a private teachers' college based on Normal principles.

[8][9][11] In 1923, it was renamed East Texas State Teachers College to define its purpose "more clearly",[8][12][13] and in 1935, it began its graduate education program.

[12][8][14][11] Following the inauguration of the institution's first doctoral program in 1962,[12][8] its name was changed to East Texas State University (ETSU) in 1965.

[15] ETSU obtained a separate board of regents in 1969,[16] and the approval to open a branch campus in Texarkana in 1971.

[14][22] ETSU's former branch campus in Texarkana was renamed Texas A&M University–Texarkana and admitted into TAMUS as a separate university.

The first proposal was to change the university's name to Texas A&M University–Dallas to establish stronger ties to Dallas County and the DFW Metroplex, where most of the school's students come from.

However, that idea was met with strong opposition from graduates, alumni, and community members, with many suggesting if there was to be a name change, it should to be to East Texas A&M University.

On August 7, 2024, university president Dr. Mark Rudin announced via social media that he "could not support the option of changing the name to Texas A&M University–Dallas not now, nor in the future."

Accordingly, East Texas A&M is a Level II Doctoral Research University, classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The college also has a large number of professors with tenure and emeritus status, who provide lectures and speaking engagements nationally and internationally, which reflects the quality of business-oriented educational opportunity that East Texas A&M has to offer.

Degrees and courses of study offered in this college include liberal arts, history, performing arts, music and music education, literature and language, mass media and communications, theatre, political science, and sociology and criminal justice.

The college also offers undergraduates who are pursuing a political science degree who wish to attend law school for postgraduate work, a career in a law-preparatory program, as well as LSAT test preparation that is also administered on campus.

The physics and astronomy department has an award-winning planetarium located within the McFarland Science Building, attracting students from area schools and interested visitors, as well.

The college operates an educational farm and ranch about 5 miles south of Commerce on Texas State Highway 24, where students are able to engage in a hands-on approach to agriculture sciences and animal handling.

[41] The university also owns and operates an 1,800-acre farm and ranch with an equine center located near the main campus.

Velma K Waters Library is named in honor of the first undergraduate African American student to enroll at ETAMU.

The library was previously named in honor of James Gilliam Gee, a former president of the university who served from 1947 to 1966, but was renamed in August 2020.

[46] The Rayburn Student Center (RSC) serves as a focal site for activities and events on campus.

Also, a bookstore located on the first floor of the building offers supplies, school themed spirit merchandise, and other items related to the university.

The Club features a drink and snack bar, a game room, and a stage with a panoramic television screen.

Numerous honor societies and scholastic fraternities have members based on major or course of study.

The station offers a variety format, and broadcasts locally hosted presentations of National Public Radio news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

In an effort to increase the university's student-retention rate, traditional freshmen sign a contract to stay on campus for a minimum of two years or four semesters.

The university is a member of the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Southland Conference.

Previously, the Lions participated in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) from 1931–32 academic year until the 2021–22 season.

Each year, the nonprofit organization hosts various workshops, seminars, and other events designed to advance the mission and membership of the Association in addition to programs with the purpose of enhancing job prospects of ETAMU students and graduates.