Perhaps CSU is a great choice, and maybe UIUC. I'm in the Detroit metro region, and Wayne State University is mostly a commuter school. I don't know too much about their program, but I know it's not that big. Last I checked, in 1999, it isn't certified by the ACSP (I think that's the right acronym), but that could have changed and may not matter to you. The question is: which school can give you funding? I know at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (45 minutes west of WSU) they are big on design (Doug Kelbaugh, formerly of Washington State University and author of "The Pedestrian Pocket Book" is the dean and is part of the new urbanism contingency of Duany, Calthorpe, et al) and just recently hired Professor Robert Fishman of Rutgers. He teaches a class on urban history and another called "Suburbia." Perhaps a bit too much theory in their program, but definitely have some good names for faculty. So, my point is this: find funding and figure out who teaches what and balance that with your own interests. Ultimately, it may not make a difference on where you study. What matters is finding a place that interests you, has the classes you want, and has connections with the local communities to help you with an internship. Big name universities may not have the funding you want (however, if you have relevant work experience and high GREs, I'm sure you'd have no problem funding some kind of departmental funding) but have the resources (knowledgeable professors, placement staff, dual degree programs, top-notch libraries, computers and GIS, adequate studio space, etc.) to make your academic experience great (and the name recognition helps, too). Smaller schools can offer extensive local connections and resources which may be relevant if you plan to stay in the community or state where you are studying.