UIUC or UTK for Matse ?

[Ceramist]

Need help in deciding between UTK and UIUC. I got an offer for non-thesis MS from UIUC (with no funding). The UTK offer comes with full funding (RA position). 

 

So this is what is going on in my head:

 

1. UIUC is very highly ranked for Matse (in the recent US News ranking, it was 2nd for Matse in graduate rankings). So, doing an MS from here should give me great opportunity to go for a PhD (which is my ultimate aim) either continuing at UIUC or somewhere else. The only problem is that of financial aid. I was told that students do manage to get financial aid once they have joined a program. But the email from UIUC says that "Self-funded students are expected to remain self-funded during the entire program. You will not be eligible for a tuition waiver or a teaching or research assistantship. "Does that mean there is absolutely no possibility of getting funding at UIUC ?

 

2. The offer from UTK is very good. It is at the Bredesen Center. The program is more multi-disciplinary as courses can be taken in different aspects. Also, I am being offered a fellowship which provides for a good monthly stipend. But, UTK is not that highly ranked (51 in the US News Ranking). 

 

So the dilemma is between a high ranked place for MS with no funding, and a low ranked Univ for PhD with funding. 

Views are invited. Am I missing something ? Or is there something else I should be considering ?