How often do MS engineering students get funding?

Graduate School
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<p>Note, this topic is about the title, not my college decision, I'm just explaining so people have some background for the question.</p>

<p>I'm deciding where to go to undergrad right now. I'm either going to Cornell or Georgia Tech, and want to major in electrical or computer engineering. After I get an undergrad degree, I'm thinking I'll want to get an MS in ece aswell, although obviously in the following four years my plans could change tremendously and I could be satisfied with a bachelors or want to go on to get a phd, or have switched majors, but hopefully not.</p>

<p>Anyway due to my parents amazing foresight I can afford both schools with no debt. However since Gatech is 15k a year cheaper I'd have money left for grad school and could maybe afford to pay tuition and room and board for 2 years without taking tons of debt, although there would still be a bunch if it were as expensive as undergrad, but manageable. However if I go to Cornell I wouldn't have much left and thus would need funding unless I wanted to take on tons of debt.</p>

<p>Ideally it would be nice to be able to TA or RA or something and get a tuition waver and a small stipend. How often does this happen with MS Engineering students, assuming I get decent grades and have some research experience?</p>

<p>Also again this topic is not mainly about which college I'm going to decide to go to, its about whether or not its likely I'd get funding for a MS if I do well at whichever place I choose. However to let you know, right now I'm leaning towards Cornell, and feel free to post your thoughts/advice if you wish.</p>

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<p>Terminal masters will never get funding. I received a TA from Georgia Tech as an MS applicant, but the expectation is that I get a PhD. I hear it's pretty common to act like you're interested in a PhD for funding purposes but leave after you get your MS; Nobody can really legally force you to stay, but then the question is more of a moral one.</p>

<p>An RA is definitely out of the question though. Even in a college where I had an advisor, they wanted me to agree to TA for a year until I received the RA. A year means you're pretty much done with your MS.</p>

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<p>Interesting, I guess it wouldn't be complete lying if I feigned interest in a phd as I could be interested in one, although as of now its unlikely I'd want to go that far when I don't really want to do research or be a professor, but rather work in industry. Obviosuly my career goals could change in the next 4 years. I would certainly agree to TA though, in fact it seems like it could be pretty rewarding, and could if I liked doing it a lot, change my mind into getting a phd.</p>

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<p>any other thoughts?</p>