[Admissions Advice] Confused between UCSD MSDS and UMass MSCS

I’m currently deciding between UCSD MSDS and UMass Amherst MSCS, and I could really use some advice.

A bit about me:

• International student
• Will be mostly funding my education through a loan
• Open to SDE roles (not strictly targeting data science)

My main confusion is around whether choosing UCSD is worth it given that it’s noticeably more expensive, vs going with UMass which seems comparatively affordable.

Some things I’m trying to understand:

• Does UCSD’s location (California) actually give a meaningful edge in internships/jobs?
• How do job outcomes compare for MSDS vs MSCS grads in the current market?
• Is the shorter duration at UCSD a benefit or a disadvantage?

Would really appreciate any insights, especially from current students or recent grads from either program 🙏
My other admits: UMD MSDS, UW-Madison MSDS, NYU MSCS, and USC MSCS