Choosing Between ISU, UF, and USC for Statistics PhD

[LebronJames]

Hey everyone,

I’m deciding between three Statistics PhD offers: Iowa State University (ISU), University of Florida (UF), and University of South Carolina (USC). My goal is to go into industry, preferably in the finance or tech field.

Here’s what I’m considering:

ISU: Strong reputation in statistics but located in Ames, which I’m not too excited about.
UF: Offers the most funding (not significantly higher), decent location, highest rated university, but I’m unsure about industry connections.
USC: Nice place to live, but I’m not sure how it compares in terms of reputation and job prospects.

In terms of alignment of my research interests with faculty it's pretty even for me. I’d love to hear from anyone with insight into these programs—especially regarding industry placement and overall experience. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!