<p>Congratulations on having great choices. Since this is the Umich forum, it won’t surprise you that I am both biased and largely unfamiliar with UIUC except a general sense that it is an excellent school.
I do believe (perhaps due to my bias) that University of Michigan has a higher international profile, and that you could leverage your proximity to the auto industry by attending. I am also confident that as an international student, you will find a fairly robust and friendly community in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor traditionally ranks as one of the best “college towns” to live in, and for great reasons.
So in general, I do not believe you can go wrong.</p>
<p>And yes, Detroit is a complex and troubled city, which has a dramatic contrast between the urban “decaying” center and the sprawling “suburban” communities. But it is what it is. That said, there is a lot to be said for the natural resources and economical cost of living in Michigan in general. But like most students at a top engineering program, attending school in Michigan does not necessarily mean that your future employment is in any way confined to Michigan/Detroit. On the contrary, our grads are sought everywhere. SO the Detroit/quality of life issue isn’t one you have to answer before making your decision about which program to attend ;)</p>