CMU vs USC Software Engineering

[anom217]

I was accepted into CMU's MS in Information Technology-Software Engineering and USC's MS Computer Science-Software Engineering programs. I'm trying to decide which school to attend. Tuition is a bit higher at CMU, and I could get more financial aid from USC. I think living in LA would be fun, but I wouldn't mind Pittsburgh either.

I know CMU has a much better reputation in CS, but for Software Engineering is CMU still way ahead of USC? Is it worth the money and effort going to a more rigorous school like CMU for a professional-oriented MS like software engineering?

If anyone has experience or advice with this I'd appreciate it.

[BKMD]

I think CMU is worth it. I think for a professional-oriented track, the program you go to matters even more than if you're doing a research-oriented program, since future employers will be looking primarily at your transcripts, rather than your publication record.

CMU also has extremely close ties with industry. Google has offices right on the campus, and I believe IBM and Apple also have branches in Pittsburgh.