Texas A&M University, the state's oldest public institution of higher learning, was founded in 1876 as a land-grant college. It is also one of the sixteen sea-grant universities in the nation and was recently designated as a space-grant university. Texas A&M has the state's largest and the nation's sixth largest research budget. The main campus is situated on 5,200 acres. Its recreational facilities include an eighteen-hole golf course, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a polo field. The Memorial Student Center and Rudder Conference Center provide numerous opportunities in all academic areas. Two major concert series offer a choice of popular and classical events during the year. Texas A&M University is a member of the Big Twelve, with frequent campus athletic events.

Texas A&M University has a total enrollment of approximately 43,000 students, about 6,500 of whom are enrolled in graduate programs. All fifty states and many countries are represented on campus.

College Station and the adjoining city of Bryan have a population of 120,000 and are located within 100 miles of both Austin and Houston and within 180 miles of Dallas, San Antonio, and the Gulf Coast. Waterskiing, fishing, hunting, boating, and horseback riding are all popular sports in the area. The Sunbelt location provides ample opportunity to participate in these activities. The community offers good school systems, numerous licensed day-care facilities, a regional shopping mall, and a range of cultural activities. The two cities maintain forty parks, six swimming pools, four golf courses, and numerous tennis courts. Both country and city living are available within a few miles of the University.