UTSA or UTEP which one is better option? (San Antonio, Austin: apartments, schools)

[bittu..]

Hi,
I am an Indian, intrested to do Masters in Electrical Engineering in USA, so i applied to some universities and got admit in UTSA and UTEP, now im confused to choose one in them. UTSA has slightly high tution fee for international students than UTEP, And some saying that even though fee is on higher side UTSA has good reputation and will give more value to your degree than UTEP, which helps to get a job easily after masters, Is it true?
But i has little more interest in UTEP for its low tution fee. Can you people please help me in choosing one in these two universities.
Main criteria is quality of education offering, Degree value, Professors guidance, Campus life, funding options, job opportunities after study.

Thank you...

[explorer2014]

I don't know anything specifically about their electrical engineering programs but overall I would view UTSA as the better of the two in a general sense. I also view UTSA as having more upward potential over the longer run. But you really need to talk to someone who knows their electrical engineering programs.

[banal]

Go to UTSA. The engineering departments at both schools are excellent programs but there appears to be a bias at UTEP. Particularly favoring Hispanic students.

[gguerra]

Don't know about the education aspects of the two schools but I assume they are similar. Choosing which city however is a no-brainer. San Antonio would be the choice. So much more to do and see. El Paso (I have visited) has some scenic desert mountains around it but the city itself does not have much to offer as opposed to SA. Just a thought.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by gguerra

Choosing which city however is a no-brainer. San Antonio would be the choice. So much more to do and see.

In general I agree. On the other hand UTEP is more centrally located with all that implies for off-campus apartments within easy commuting distance. Rents will likely be cheaper than anyplace close to the main UTSA campus.

[tx09]

San Antonio has a bigger South Asian community and more Indian restaurants.

[bittu..]

Thanks to all for your valuable suggestions :-)

[joqua]

One important point not yet made is that both UTEP and UTSA are branch campuses of the University of Texas. So any degree recipient will have the advantage of Univ. of Tex. name recognition and prestige. All of the branch campuses are governed by the same UT Systems administration which sets the academic standards for all nine schools (and the various Health Sciences centers).

[tx09]

Originally Posted by joqua

One important point not yet made is that both UTEP and UTSA are branch campuses of the University of Texas. So any degree recipient will have the advantage of Univ. of Tex. name recognition and prestige. All of the branch campuses are governed by the same UT Systems administration which sets the academic standards for all nine schools (and the various Health Sciences centers).

Are you saying the UT System administration sets the standards for all nine schools combined? Each school sets its own standards. Hence UT Austin is the most competitive (other than the health science centers). UTEP and UTSA are comparatively easier to get accepted to.

[Westerner92]

UTSA might be worth the extra money. It's not exactly more prestigious than UTEP, but it offers, in my opinion, a higher quality of life and more connections since San Antonio is bigger and less isolated.