I attended TAMU as a local graduate student (already married). SIL attended TAMU - he had some years growing up in TX and was pursuing military/was in Corps of Cadets. You have to love TX and love being in a college town pretty far away from major cities. Although TAMU is in the SEC, it is not as similar as the big flagship southern school experience. We have DD that attended UA, and another that attended UAB. We live in AL, but DDs don’t really look to staying within the state professionally. If student has good stats, go where the $$ is.