I would love feedback from Alums or others familiar, but am looking for a little more than world news rankings. I am looking for the best learning environment, not just most recognized.
I plan to move to one of the four this June. I worked five years as a self taught chemical engineer for a mining company, looking for something new.
I have a young family, money is not an influencer, looking for a serious CS program with other serious developers.
On Texas:
University of Texas is where blue-staters go. Austin is full of progressive-minded folks and all the cultural tidbits that come with it (organic food, bike-friendly, dog parks, indie coffee, etc). The IT set is very strong here, as is the CS program (#8 according to USNews), and there's no shortage of discussion on Austin as a rising startup hub. Edsger Dijkstra was on the faculty from 1984 until 1999, and undoubtedly contributed a great deal to the shape of the department. Austin has some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet, if you like striking up random conversation with strangers. Also, Live Music Capital of the World, if you're into that kind of thing.
Texas A&M is where red-staters go (I am a former student). Very cheap to live in B/CS but can be culturally homogeneous at times (this has changed a on campus a great deal in recent decades). A&M's undergraduate CS program didn't seem too special, at least while I was there. Being a very large state university, they have plenty of resources, but the CS dept is not in the top echelon of "significant" programs there. Probably a pretty decent place for kids, being a sort of values-oriented community. Also, Johnny Freaking Football, if you're into that kind of thing (and you will be if you go there).
I know nothing about the others but the weather's probably a bit nicer in Gainesville and San Diego. You might want to visit each city and get a feel for them if you intend to stay there for a full 4 years.