Does anyone out there in Archinect-land have an insider POV about UNLV's M.Arch program? I'm in at UNLV and Penn, which seems like a no-brainer choice, I'm sure, but the cost for Penn is prohibitive enough to cause doubt to weigh in on my mind. Penn's program is, obviously, very prestigious and it's debatable about the long-term benefits of having an "Ivy League" education and connections etc. etc., but UNLV is much more affordable for me, and a more familiar place, as I have family there. It would also be less taxing to relocate there (from CA) than all the way across the country. I guess it really boils down to the nuts-and-bolts-logistics of it all.

Pretty much the only thing that would push me away from the program at UNLV is quality. It's difficult to find much information about the program - accolades, publications, projects etc., so I thought I would see if there are any students that are or were enrolled in the program and if they had any thoughts on the matter. I have no complaints about the campus or the location; mainly, it's concern over whether or not it's a sound investment (though the same sentiment could be argued about Penn, or architecture school, in general).

I suppose what it comes down to is: I don't want to pass up the opportunity at Penn to find that UNLV lacks substance and only appears to be solid superficially, and conversely, I don't want to go to Penn and end up overburdened with debt up to my eyeballs only to look back and realize that I could have received a comparable education at UNLV for part of the price. Does it make more sense to "live within my means" in this particular case?

I appreciate any advice/thoughts/anectdotal evidence that anyone out there might have. Thanks.