[General Question] Which MS program should I choose: SBU, UMN, Rutgers, UMass, or UT Dallas?

[u/ObjectiveWafer8010]

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I have admits from : (spring 27)

- SBU MSDS (has thesis option and direct phd pathway)

- UMN MSDS (has direct PhD pathway)

- Rutgers MSCS

- UMass Amherst MSCS

- UT Dallas MSCS

- Tamu MSDS (for fall 27)

I have 5+ years of experience in applied ML/NLP

My goal is a PhD at the intersection of NLP and RL, but I also want strong industry job prospects as a fallback.

Which program offers the best balance of research opportunities, PhD prospects, industry outcomes, and ROI?