Texas is a state in the United States South Central region. It is the second-largest state in the United States by area and population, with 268,596 square miles and more than 29.1 million residents in 2020. Texas borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south and southwest; and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southwest. Texas is an excellent place to attend college. The state has extensive community college systems, strong public university systems, and prestigious universities such as Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin. Students travel to the United States for a variety of reasons, including its highly regarded universities, cultural diversity, and student support. In 2019, approximately 77,000 international students made Texas their home, making it the third most popular state in the country for studying abroad.
The university is well-known for its Manufacturing Institute, which focuses on research and training for businesses and employees. South Texas College is the most affordable undergraduate educational institution in Texas. There are several university systems in Texas that welcome international students, including the reputable Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, University of Houston, University of North Texas, and University of Texas satellite campus systems. In addition, the state has over 50 independently run public and private universities to choose from.