Reputable and affordable B&M Universities like CUNY

[Merlin]

Which ETHZ are you talking about? ETH Zurich is the only one I'm seeing and the master's program (for computer science) says nothing about "reputable" or "top tier" universities nor SAT scores. You also do not need a CS bachelor's degree for the CS master's, so long as you meet their requirements for courses taken.

Yeah it's ETH Zurich. Since there's lots of applicants they consider those requirements. I read lots of quora questions about it. Their acceptance rate just %27. But i don't know. I just want to see my options like CUNY.

Most people who say these things on Reddit are typically guessing as to what an admissions board looks for. At most schools, especially the highly competitive ones, once you meet their minimum entrance requirements it comes down to the overall application package (which really means your entrance essay, statement of purpose, references, previous research, presentations, etc. -- things that show what kind of a person you are). These are factored much more heavily into the selection process than your academic record, test scores, or schools attended. Particularly at the graduate level. In fact, few grad schools care about the college you got your bachelor's degree from at all. They are more interested what you did in undergrad that sets you apart. They want to understand how far you pushed yourself, the contributions you made, the people you influenced, etc. Their job is not only to find people who will complete the courses and graduate, but who will push the boundaries and ultimately make the school look better.

Of course, attending a higher tier college will open up more opportunities to pursue more intensive fields of study and push yourself to take higher-level math courses and such. It may also open up research opportunities, etc. That is one advantage that you can't get from taking ACE courses and transferring them to TESU. But it is only an advantage if you actually take advantage of it.

That said, we have people on this forum who have completed degrees at "no name" schools and gone on to study at top tier grad schools. It is all about how motivated you are, what you have accomplished, and how well you market yourself... much like applying for a job at a dream employer. If you can find a good B&M school that offers a degree you're excited about and you can afford the tuition, then go for it. But just go into it knowing that your bachelor's degree school counts for almost nothing in the grand scheme of things when applying to grad school. Don't bankrupt yourself trying to pay for a top tier school just because you think it is going to help you get into a better grad school, since it won't do anything on its own.