Which university is better for an MS in computer engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology or the University of Cincinnati?

If you are thinking of pursuing research-based MS, then you have to consider whether your choice of institute will have the professor or lab where you want to work on your research. You also need to ensure if they will provide you with funds so you don’t have the burden of paying the tuition for the degree. If you look at their rankings, both are ranked at 79th place in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs rankings by US News and World Report. If you have completed your education as an undergraduate in the computer science or engineering department, then you will have only a few classes. You won’t get much value out of it as there will be very few classes teaching you advanced topics that you are keen to learn. In the other classes, you will be learning things you have studied or had a glance at earlier. The rankings of institutes are based on many factors that may or may not be important to you, so you should rather focus on aspects that are of significance to you. The master's degree usually is 30 credits and you may complete the degree in 2 years or before too if you are not thinking of pursuing the Ph.D. The classes you take with this period may not have full effect if you consider entering the industry.Here are the program details of both the colleges for you to compare: University of Cincinnati Illinois Institute of Technology Program M.SC (Computer Engineering) M.ENG (Computer Engineering) Tuition Fees USD13,105/Year USD45,447/Year Exam Scores (Average) IELTS-7.5 TOEFL-100 SAT-1230 ACT-26 IELTS-7.5 TOEFL-105 SAT-1320 ACT-28 Research Universities rankings (Forbes) #152 #111 Top Recruiters General Electric Aviation, University of Cincinnati, General Electric Co., The Kroger Company, etc. 6COM.Inc, Allscripts, Amazon, Antra Inc, Black Phoenix, Deloitte, etc. The tuition cost of the programs is also an important aspect you should consider while choosing your college.The University of Cincinnati being a public institute offers a lot of resources in placing you in the computer engineering industry. Illinois Institute of Technology may be very expensive for you if they do not have enough funds for your education. Whichever institute costs you less will reduce your burden of debt so that may be the best choice considering the financial aspect. The decision is yours to make keeping in mind the factors which are of utmost importance to you.

Illinois Institute Of Technology - [IIT Chicago], Illinois, Chicago - Accommodation

Chicago, IllinoisLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1890established year

7164enrollment

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Private (Not for Profit)

7.4/10

15 reviews

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Illinois Institute of Technology Accommodation: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 15 Reviews

Students have the option to live both on-campus and off-campus. On-campus housing includes McCormick Student Village and student apartments, but is noted as being expensive and of lower quality. Popular off-campus options are Prairie Shores, Lake Meadows, and Eden Commons, with Eden Commons being the cheapest at around $600 per month.

A shared 2BHK apartment with four people costs approximately $350 per person. Lake Meadows offers easy lease signing without requiring a guarantor. Off-campus accommodations are preferred for affordability, despite longer commutes due to safety concerns in nearby areas. Most housing arrangements can be explored online.

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Life at Illinois Institute of Technology as an International Graduate Student

Likes

The classes are very career-focused, especially for analytics and business students. Most assignments are practical and based on real-world tools like SQL, Tableau, Power BI, and Python.
Being located in Chicago is a huge advantage because there are many opportunities for internships, networking events, and career fairs.
The professors are approachable and supportive. Many of them have industry experience, which makes the learning more relevant.

Dislikes

Some administrative processes can be slow at times, especially regarding documentation and approvals.
Tuition and living expenses can feel expensive for international students.
Certain courses are more academically intense than expected, so balancing studies, internships, and part-time work can become stressful.

Accommodation

Off Campus

I found my accommodation near Illinois Institute of Technology through student WhatsApp and Facebook housing groups, where seniors and existing students regularly post available apartments and roommate openings. I stayed in a shared apartment with roommates, which made the overall cost more affordable. My monthly rent was around USD 380-420 per month, excluding some utilities.
The apartment included facilities like Wi-Fi, laundry, kitchen access, heating, and basic furnished/common living spaces. The location was also convenient for commuting to campus through public transportation.

I found my accommodation near Illinois Institute of Technology through student WhatsApp and Facebook housing groups, where seniors and existing students regularly post available apartments and roommate openings. I stayed in a shared apartment with roommates, which made the overall cost more affordable. My monthly rent was around USD 380-420 per month, excluding some utilities.
The apartment included facilities like Wi-Fi, laundry, kitchen access, heating, and basic furnished/common living spaces. The location was also convenient for commuting to campus through public transportation.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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Dedeepya P

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )Master of Advanced Studies Information Technology and ManagementFebruary 27, 2026

9.0 /10

Comprehensive and Honest Review of Life and Academics at Illinois Institute of Technology

Likes

Campus Life – The campus life is one of the main highlights of the university. It is vibrant, diverse, and full of activities. There are many student clubs, cultural events, and interactive programs that make student life enjoyable and engaging.(5/5)
Accommodation – The accommodation facilities are comfortable and well-managed. The hostels provide a safe environment with good amenities, making it convenient for students to focus on their studies.(5/5)

Accommodation

Off Campus

My family helped me look for accommodation, so I did not use external platforms. However, for new students, I strongly recommend using official university housing options or contacting the leasing office directly, rather than relying on online groups, Discord, or Telegram, as many scams target international students. Careful verification of all sources is essential.
Monthly rent varies by location and type of accommodation, with a bare minimum of $350–$450. Additional expenses, such as utilities and Wi-Fi, are around $50 per month, and food costs range from $50–$100, making the total bare minimum approximately $500–$600 per month. Students should plan carefully and prioritize trusted channels to avoid scams.

My family helped me look for accommodation, so I did not use external platforms. However, for new students, I strongly recommend using official university housing options or contacting the leasing office directly, rather than relying on online groups, Discord, or Telegram, as many scams target international students. Careful verification of all sources is essential.
Monthly rent varies by location and type of accommodation, with a bare minimum of $350–$450. Additional expenses, such as utilities and Wi-Fi, are around $50 per month, and food costs range from $50–$100, making the total bare minimum approximately $500–$600 per month. Students should plan carefully and prioritize trusted channels to avoid scams.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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Vineeth Nimma

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )Masters in Manufacturing EngineeringJanuary 27, 2026

7.3 /10

Illinois Tech honest review

Likes

Great faculty and with immense experience
Flexible course selection
Access to industrial grade equipment and training

Dislikes

Too expensive (accommodation & Tuition)
Not enough access with Alumni
Great Uni for Undergrads but not Grads

Accommodation

Off Campus

It’s totally Off- campus and I would not recommend On-campus for the sole purpose of being expensive.

It’s totally Off- campus and I would not recommend On-campus for the sole purpose of being expensive.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 6/10

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Akhil

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )Food scienceJanuary 19, 2026

9.7 /10

A Career-Focused Academic Journey.

Likes

Strong focus on STEM and applied learning Programs emphasize hands-on, practical education, which is especially valuable in fields like food safety, engineering, and technology.
Industry-relevant curriculum Courses are aligned with real-world applications, regulations, and industry expectations, helping students become job-ready.
Location in Chicago Being in Chicago provides access to internships, industry networking, research institutions, and professional events.

Dislikes

High tuition and living costs Tuition and expenses in Chicago can be financially challenging, especially for international students.
Limited campus life compared to large universities Fewer large-scale sports events, clubs, and traditional campus activities.
Heavy academic workload Programs can be intense, requiring strong time management—challenging for students balancing work and studies.

Accommodation

Off Campus

The accommodation was comfortable, affordable, and student-friendly, with good connectivity to campus and essential amenities. Sharing housing also helped with cost savings and social interaction, especially as an international student. I found accommodation through WhatsApp groups for around 500 to 800$ per month.

The accommodation was comfortable, affordable, and student-friendly, with good connectivity to campus and essential amenities. Sharing housing also helped with cost savings and social interaction, especially as an international student. I found accommodation through WhatsApp groups for around 500 to 800$ per month.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 10/10

extracurricular: 10/10

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Student (Anonymous)

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )M.S Computer ScienceJanuary 14, 2026

4.3 /10

Think before you come!

Likes

I got a good scholarship (10k $ usd)
If you work hard you will get Teaching assistantship or research assistantship.

Dislikes

College wise, education is average. more of Indian crowd so no International experience (Also they have opened up same uni in Mumbai so degree value is lower).
Their is nothing called campus placement in USA, but university hosts campus fair (our university campus fair is shitty).
Too many students, too little on campus roles to explore expenses.

Accommodation

Off Campus

Cost of accommodation: We did not stay in dorms; we stayed in houses near the campus, which are relatively cheaper. A housing crisis exists since lots of students and very few accommodations. I paid around 400-600$(shared space).

Cost of accommodation: We did not stay in dorms; we stayed in houses near the campus, which are relatively cheaper. A housing crisis exists since lots of students and very few accommodations. I paid around 400-600$(shared space).

academic: 6/10

faculty: 6/10

infrastructure: 4/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 2/10

extracurricular: 2/10

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Alok tiwari

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )M.S Computer ScienceDecember 24, 2025

2.0 /10

My Master's experience

Likes

The campus environment is really nice, specially the library where I feel more peaceful
Professors are mostly helpful but sometimes they reply very late and its bit annoying
Coursework is kind of heavy but if you study ok then it makes sense

Dislikes

Sometimes the tuition fees feels too high compare to the facilities
Academic advisors reply very slow, sometime not even same week
Parking is very limited and expensive also, make it hard for students

Accommodation

Off Campus

I opted for off-campus accommodation; on-campus was too costly and not available immediately
I found my place mostly through Facebook groups and Telegram groups, and some listings from online rental platforms also
monthly rent was around 800–900 USD, included basic furniture, internet, and sometimes water/electricity, partly included
Challenges were many… landlords sometimes fake photos, some places are too far from campus, negotiation also takes time
A few places require a deposit of 1–2 months, and sometimes they ask for extra charges for utilities
Based on my experience, I recommend starting to search early, joining local student groups, and visiting the place before paying anything
Also, negotiate for rent and check neighborhood safety before finalizing
My accommodation was around 25–30 mins by bus from college, sometimes 15–20 mins if the traffic is good
Most Indian students prefer staying closer to downtown or near CTA lines for easy commuting
Shared apartments are common, cheaper, and better for meeting new people
Some friends stayed in nearby suburbs, which are cheaper but have longer commutes
Overall off-campus experience is manageable, but you need patience and carefulness while finalizing
On-campus dorms are convenient but very expensive and have less freedom
transportation cost adds extra if you stay far, so plan accordingly
Also check the grocery, laundromat, and food options near the accommodation before taking place

I opted for off-campus accommodation; on-campus was too costly and not available immediately
I found my place mostly through Facebook groups and Telegram groups, and some listings from online rental platforms also
monthly rent was around 800–900 USD, included basic furniture, internet, and sometimes water/electricity, partly included
Challenges were many… landlords sometimes fake photos, some places are too far from campus, negotiation also takes time
A few places require a deposit of 1–2 months, and sometimes they ask for extra charges for utilities
Based on my experience, I recommend starting to search early, joining local student groups, and visiting the place before paying anything
Also, negotiate for rent and check neighborhood safety before finalizing
My accommodation was around 25–30 mins by bus from college, sometimes 15–20 mins if the traffic is good
Most Indian students prefer staying closer to downtown or near CTA lines for easy commuting
Shared apartments are common, cheaper, and better for meeting new people
Some friends stayed in nearby suburbs, which are cheaper but have longer commutes
Overall off-campus experience is manageable, but you need patience and carefulness while finalizing
On-campus dorms are convenient but very expensive and have less freedom
transportation cost adds extra if you stay far, so plan accordingly
Also check the grocery, laundromat, and food options near the accommodation before taking place

academic: 2/10

faculty: 2/10

infrastructure: 2/10

accomodation: 2/10

placement: 2/10

extracurricular: 2/10

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Ankan Mazumdar

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )M.S Computer ScienceDecember 8, 2025

7.7 /10

My Master's experience at Illinois

Likes

The college is in the almost at the heart of city of Chicago with just 10 mins or , just 2 metro station away in the green line.Commute is superb as the green line station is within the campus , red line and one metra station is just few steps away. Bus No. 29 also takes you to downtown. You can see the blue waters of lake michigan from IIT Tower. The college offers University pass to travel to anywhere in the city.
The college provided me 6000USD scholarships for continuos first 2 semesters (total of 12000 USD) makes a no brainer why not to choose it. The college even organised a complete orientation /presentation back in India to clear our doubts and a very lavish lunch in a 5 star hotel.
Most of the interantional students lives in Prarie shores and Lake Meadows apartments which is just 15-20 mins walk away from college and are unarguably provides the cheapest and the largest accomodations to indians living in the city. Almost 10000 indians live here Indian shop and Jewel osco is on a walking distance.

Dislikes

Campus is small so on campus oppurtunities are lesser comparatively so please plan/contact early to all the relevant IIT staff from the first day of your college.
Since it is a private university, so reseacrh oppurtunities are less. I personally was interested to come here to do reseacrh under Prof. Mustafa Bilgic and Gady Agam, But I ended up none.
I was over expecting from career services to place me in a job similar to placement cells in Bachelors back in India. but they just guide to explore the options to reach out to recruiters and build a linkedin profile.

Accommodation

Off Campus

I found accommodation by connecting with people over ISA WhatsApp, the College's Discord and telegram groups.
Rent is 1705 USD monthly, including gas and service utilities (excluding wifi and electricity), which is divided to be shared by 4-5 people.
The challenge was to find & group up with friends of the same courses and like-mindedness. I contacted even the Amber students to connect with the LM PS apartment management.
Recommendation would be to post messages in groups for all the preferences you want, like number of people, veg-non veg, courses, semesters, ethnicity, etc.
My accommodation is 20 20-minute walk away from college. Most Indians stay here only

I found accommodation by connecting with people over ISA WhatsApp, the College's Discord and telegram groups.
Rent is 1705 USD monthly, including gas and service utilities (excluding wifi and electricity), which is divided to be shared by 4-5 people.
The challenge was to find & group up with friends of the same courses and like-mindedness. I contacted even the Amber students to connect with the LM PS apartment management.
Recommendation would be to post messages in groups for all the preferences you want, like number of people, veg-non veg, courses, semesters, ethnicity, etc.
My accommodation is 20 20-minute walk away from college. Most Indians stay here only

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 6/10

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Ankita Pimple

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )Master of Advanced Studies Information Technology and ManagementJune 25, 2025

9.3 /10

My Master's in Illinois Institute of technology Experience

Likes

Professor are very friendly and supportive
Diversity of students and culture where you can celebrate every festival
Campus is good and cozy and nice

Dislikes

There are very few such as limited lab resources
Overcrowded classes as it made difficult to cope-up
Late-nights lecture flexibility like at night it's isn't safe and cultural events sometimes overshadow academic process like exams, assignments deadline and projects.

Accommodation

Off Campus

I used discord and my consultancy shared some numbers of those who were in my university. My monthly rent includes $325 with utilities like a fridge, gas and water. The only challenging part was not being able to be in touch with the broker or owner. Because of the time difference, it took quite a long time to finalize a house. So I suggest you find it as soon as possible.
I would say search on linkedin; reach out to seniors and ask them if they have any leads and they might share whatsapp group of accommodations. And my house is like 10 minutes away from uni by walking.

I used discord and my consultancy shared some numbers of those who were in my university. My monthly rent includes $325 with utilities like a fridge, gas and water. The only challenging part was not being able to be in touch with the broker or owner. Because of the time difference, it took quite a long time to finalize a house. So I suggest you find it as soon as possible.
I would say search on linkedin; reach out to seniors and ask them if they have any leads and they might share whatsapp group of accommodations. And my house is like 10 minutes away from uni by walking.

+1 more

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 10/10

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Denish Dalsukhbhai Asodariya

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )TOEFL Score : 90M.S Computer ScienceJanuary 20, 2025

8.0 /10

IIT Chicago Review

Likes

Diversity: the campus has students from all over the world, offering exposure to different cultures and ideas.
Supportive Faculty: professors are knowledgeable and approachable, creating a great learning environment.
Modern Campus: the facilities, libraries and labs are well equipped with advance technology.

Dislikes

High tuition fees: the cost of education is quiet high, which can be challenging for student in managing finances.
Campus location: while chicago offers opportunities but the surrounding area near the campus could feel unsafe at times.
Dining Options: the food variety on campus could be improved, especially for international students with specific preferences.

Accommodation

Off Campus

Nearby college, two options are very famous if you want to stay off campus. First is Prairie Shores and second is Lake Meadows. In the comparison of both most are the same but Prairie Shores requires a guarantor for the lease application and Lake Meadows does not require it, students can easily sign the lease. You can see the availability and rent of the house and other details on their website and do all processes online. In my point of view, these are the best options for international students if they want to stay off-campus.

Monthly Expenses: USD$ 1,000

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 8/10

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Sarish Chavan

Illinois Institute of Technology( Enrolled 2023 )M.S Computer ScienceJune 6, 2024

7.0 /10

My experience about IIT

Likes

They also have too many Curricular activities in which you can take part.
There are so many clubs which you may join in order to keep yourself involved in the curriculum.

Dislikes

The coursework at the university is hectic and there you have to take 3 core courses which increases your workload during spring semester.

Accommodation

Off Campus

I live off campus which is near my college.

I enrolled in this university as this was a private university and had a rank of 23 all over the world in the field of computer science. My overall experience with the university was pretty good and I got to learn new technologies and new subjects.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

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