Choosing the right program for MS in Electrical Engineering.

[Rajas Nene]

Hey everyone! I have to select from UT Dallas and CU Boulder for an MS in Electrical Engineering program for Fall 2020. I'm interested in Analog/RFIC design research. I plan on doing a thesis during my MS, but not sure if I'll continue with a Ph.D. right after. I also have other admits from UFL and Virginia Tech(M.Engg in Comp Engg) and I'm expecting to get into ASU as well.

CU Boulder

1. An established good-ranking program with well-known faculty members like Zoya Popovic, Dejan Filipovic and Dragan Maksimovic.
2. Potential thesis advisors: Taylor Barton, Zoya Popovic for RF Power amplifiers.
3. Many students get TA opportunities or grader work, so there will be some form of financial assistance; haven't received any scholarship yet (low chance). Costs about $60k for a year.
4. Has a small class size; I've seen a few alumni at companies like Qorvo and Skyworks, but that's about it. I think many people go into defense jobs from here (which as an international student, I obviously can't get). Some students move out of Colorado for internships.
5. Boulder is one of the best places to live, definitely better than Dallas. But it isn't surrounded by major industrial hubs apart from a few companies in Denver and Longmont.

UT Dallas

1. Comparatively, a newer institution. (Overshadowed by UT Austin and TAMU ?). The program isn't ranked among the best in general but is pretty good from what I can see.
2. One of the major attractions for me is TxACE. Potential thesis advisors: Kenneth K. O (not sure if he advises for MS), Yun Chiu.
3. I have no idea about funding opportunities or assistantships here, but a brief look at LinkedIn profiles show that students do get it. It does have large class size though so again chances will depend accordingly. No scholarship as of now but I think they do offer some amount to students before joining. Costs about $50k for a year.
4. Texas has a ton of companies in this field. Many of the alumni are in Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, Qorvo, Skyworks e.t.c. Also, Texas Instruments hires and invests a lot in UTD. On the whole, job prospects look better here.

I'd like if y'all could compare these with respect to job scenarios as they are important for me being an international student.

TLDR

CU= better rankings, great place to live, well-known profs and program. Not much industry around, costly.

UTD= Lower rankings, decent program and courses, TxACE and great industrial presence, cheaper than CU.

Thanks.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Rajas Nene