Texas Governor Greg Abbott shut down an unauthorized Islamic university in Richardson after it illegally advertised unaccredited degrees, raising critical questions about educational oversight and whether state regulators apply the same standards to all faith-based institutions.
Story Snapshot
- Texas American Muslim University marketed STEM degrees combined with mandatory Islamic studies without state approval or accreditation
- Governor Abbott directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a cease-and-desist order on May 7, 2026
- The institution operated from a Richardson address shared with an Islamic Center, violating Texas Education Code requirements
- State officials warned of potential criminal liability for advertising worthless credentials to prospective students
Unauthorized University Operations Trigger State Action
Texas American Muslim University at Dallas promoted itself as the first American institution combining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs with mandatory Islamic studies coursework. The Richardson-based organization advertised bachelor’s and master’s degrees in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and health informatics without securing approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. State law requires all institutions using the protected title “university” to obtain authorization before granting degrees, a safeguard designed to protect students from diploma mills that leave graduates with worthless credentials and substantial debt.
Abbott Enforces Educational Standards
Governor Abbott publicly announced the enforcement action through social media, stating “Texas will not allow illegal educational institutions” to operate within state borders. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issued the cease-and-desist order citing clear violations of Texas Education Code Section 61.301, which mandates state approval for any entity offering degrees. THECB officials emphasized the institution possessed “zero credentials” and faced “potential criminal liability” for misleading prospective students about the legitimacy of its programs. This enforcement mirrors previous state actions against unaccredited Bible colleges and online diploma mills shut down between 2019 and 2023.
The regulatory crackdown reflects Texas’s consistent approach to protecting students from fraudulent educational operations regardless of religious affiliation. State education officials have previously shuttered multiple unaccredited institutions, including Cowboy State University and several Christian colleges that operated without proper authorization. The THECB’s enforcement authority exists to ensure students invest time and money only in programs that meet established academic standards and provide transferable, employer-recognized credentials. Texas maintains some of the nation’s strictest higher education regulations, requiring approval processes that verify institutional capacity, faculty qualifications, and curriculum quality before any school can legally grant degrees.
Faith-Based Education Faces Scrutiny Across Political Spectrum
The incident highlights broader tensions surrounding faith-integrated education that frustrate citizens across the political spectrum. Conservatives value religious freedom and educational choice but recognize the need to prevent fraudulent operations that exploit students and undermine legitimate faith-based institutions. Progressives express concerns about potential discrimination against Muslim communities while simultaneously supporting strong consumer protections in higher education. Both perspectives converge on a fundamental principle: government regulators must apply consistent standards to all institutions regardless of religious affiliation, protecting students from predatory practices while respecting constitutional rights to establish genuine educational programs that meet legal requirements.
Muslims Tried To Open an Islamic University in Texas, Then THIS HAPPENED…
Muslims tried to offer Degrees in Texas with required Muslim programs, no permission asked for from the State.
Shut down immediately b y Texas.https://t.co/hZqOLcMESm— Mark Eugene (@CrotalusHH) May 13, 2026
As of mid-May 2026, Texas American Muslim University had not publicly responded to the cease-and-desist order, and THECB officials warned of further legal action if operations continued. The case underscores persistent failures in governmental oversight—the institution operated long enough to build a website and recruit prospective students before regulators intervened. Citizens legitimately question why state agencies fail to proactively monitor unauthorized educational operations before students face potential harm. This reactive enforcement pattern, whether targeting Muslim, Christian, or secular institutions, demonstrates regulatory gaps that leave vulnerable populations exposed to exploitation by organizations more interested in revenue than educational quality or legal compliance.
Sources:
Muslims Tried To Open an Islamic University in Texas, Then THIS HAPPENED – MakeFreedom
