Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Texas American Muslim University (TexAM), alleging the organisation operated as an unlicensed and unaccredited institution while offering academic degrees it was not legally authorised to award.
The State of Texas claims the institution presented itself as a legitimate higher education provider despite never receiving the required certificate of authority from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
“TexAM has repeatedly disregarded Texas law, misrepresented its authority to grant degrees, and risked deceiving students about its legitimacy,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “My office will not allow illegal, unaccredited degree mills to operate in Texas.”
Court filings submitted in Collin County state that TexAM advertised bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in subjects including computer science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and health informatics while operating outside state approval.
The state alleges these representations risked misleading prospective students who would reasonably expect such qualifications to be formally recognised.
TexAM is also accused of continuing recruitment activity after its corporate charter was forfeited in February 2026 and after state regulators issued formal warnings and cease-and-desist notices. According to the petition, the organisation still promoted courses, held events and marketed tuition offers, including low-cost registration fees aimed at international applicants.
The filing places significant weight on branding and naming conventions used by the organisation. TexAM is alleged to have adopted a name and presentation closely resembling Texas A&M University, creating confusion over whether any institutional link existed.
The Texas A&M University System issued a separate cease-and-desist notice stating there is no affiliation and warning that the branding could mislead the public.
Regulatory findings cited in the case state that TexAM never held authorisation to operate as a private postsecondary institution in Texas. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board determined the organisation could not legally grant degrees and warned that continued operation could trigger penalties under state education law alongside deceptive trade practice provisions.
The Attorney General is seeking court orders to halt TexAM’s activities, restrict its use of contested branding and impose civil penalties that could exceed $1 million. The lawsuit also asks the court to prevent the organisation from advertising or offering degree programmes until it complies with Texas regulatory requirements.
Proceedings will now continue in Collin County, where the court will assess whether the conduct outlined in the petition violates state education statutes and consumer protection laws, and whether interim restrictions should be imposed while the case is heard in full.