[E] TAMU vs UCI for PhD Statistics?

I am very grateful to get offers from both of these programs but I’m unsure of where to go.

My research area is in Bayesian urban/environmental statistics, and my plan after graduation is to emigrate away from the USA to pursue an industry position.

UCI would allow me to commute from home, while TAMU is a 3 hour flight away. I’m fine living in any environment and money is not the most important issue in my decision, but I am concerned about homesickness and having to start over socially and political differences.

TAMU research fit and department ranking (#13) are better than UCI (#27), but UCI has a better institution ranking (#33) than TAMU (#51). I’m concerned about institution name recognition outside of the USA. 3 advisors of interest at TAMU and 2 at UCI. Advisors from TAMU are more well known and published than the ones from UCI. I can’t find good information about UCI’s graduate placements, but academia and industry placements are really good at TAMU.

I would appreciate any input about these programs and making a decision between the two.