Duke vs UIUC for MS in Data Science
I have been admitted to UIUC - MS in Statistics-Analytics program, and Duke's MS in Interdisciplinary Data Science program. Though I like Duke's curriculum more than UIUC, as it offers more flexibility and variety of subjects, the following two points are my concern:
1. Duke's two year tuition fees is $94300, whereas UIUC is costing around $58000 for two years. Is it worth spending $35000 extra for Duke?
2. Duke's program will have it's inaugural class in Fall 2018, whereas UIUC has an established program.Is this more of an advantage to Duke students, as department will put their best efforts to turn this new initiative into a success, or it would be more of a disadvantage?
Replies to: Duke vs UIUC for MS in Data Science
(The class size at Duke will be 30-35 students, compared to 65-70 students at UIUC)
Or you feel there is not much difference in brand value of both the schools, and I should join the so called "public Ivy" UIUC?
If you want to remain in the United States, the Duke brand is pretty hard to beat.
Brand wise, Duke definitely wins. But do you think it is risky to be a part of inaugural class of a new course at Duke, and therefore UIUC's established program might be a better option?
What are the UIUC students doing post graduation? Do you see your goals reflected in these outcomes? What companies hire there? Does there seem to be a pipeline to certain destinations? What are your expectations?
$35k may or may not be a big deal to you, depending on your stage of life. Do some due diligence and then when you make your decision, don't look back. Stay focused on your goals wherever you go. Good luck!
New programs are not bad, particularly if they are begun at universities that already have strengths in the area. Data science is basically an interdisciplinary degree in statistics and computer science. Duke already is strong in computer science and in math, and has a good program in statistics, so I'd imagine that their data science program will be pretty good. They also already have great resources for graduate students - including career services - and are close to a burgeoning tech corridor in Raleigh.
That said, UIUC has strengths in these areas too and strong connections to tech companies across the country, plus the program is a lot less expensive. If I were you I would choose UIUC's program because of the difference in cost.