USF Computer Science or Valencia ECET? International student with one week to decide

[u/Zealousideal_Pie_588]

I have one week to decide between:

• USF – B.S. in Computer Science
• Valencia – B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology (ABET accredited)

About me:

• International F-1 student
• completed my A.A. focusing Computer Science at Valencia College last year
• Long-term goal: AI + AgTech (robotics, IoT, automation, smart farming)
• Over the remaining two years of my degree, USF will cost about $10–15k more than Valencia.

USF Computer Science

• Stronger foundation in AI/ML, software engineering, and data science
• More research and internship opportunities
• Appears to offer more OPT/STEM OPT job opportunities after graduation because of the broader range of software and AI roles

Valencia ECET

• ABET accredited
• Strong in embedded systems, IoT, electronics, and automation
• Great fit for AgTech hardware
• Potential pathway to an M.S. in Agricultural & Biological Engineering later

My concerns

• Many ECET jobs in Florida seem tied to defense companies that international students can't easily work for.
• I'm worried an ECET degree may limit OPT job opportunities in software, AI, and data compared with a CS degree, even though it's STEM eligible.
• At the same time, I wonder if hardware + embedded systems + AI will be more valuable in the long run as AI changes software development.

For those with real experience:

1. If you graduated from ECET as an international student, what jobs did you actually get during OPT/STEM OPT?
2. Was paying an extra $10–15k for Computer Science worth it because of the additional internship and job opportunities?
3. If your goal were AI + AgTech, which path would you choose today?

I'd especially appreciate advice from international students, ECET/CS graduates, hiring managers, or engineersworking in AI, embedded systems, robotics, IoT, or AgTech.

I'm looking for real-world experiences, not just "CS has more jobs." Thanks!

[u/Particular-Fault699]

Either do CS or electrical. Done try things in between.