I f I were you, I would take the Hofstra University program, provided I could afford the tuition. No doubt, NYC is the financial center of the US, and you would have much more opportunities to find positions (summer intern, or permanent) in finance and other related areas in NYC than in San Francisco area. Hofstra is in Long Island, which is only a short subway ride to Manhattan (around 1 hour or so). And livining(food & housing) cost in Long Island is probably similar if not cheaper than in SFO. A lot of people working in Manhattan (including Wall street) actually live in Long Island and commute to Manhattan daily.
   Although USF is also a decent university, it is famous for its medical school. Silicon valley nearby offers more opportunies for IT guys. The Financial Analysis Graduate Program at USF is geared towards getting the CFA designation. In my opinion, working experience in financial industry counts more than a simple CFA title. And I know several Chinese studendts without any formal finance training pass their CFA exams easily by self-study.  
    The US economy seems to have bottomed out and is on its way to recovery. Two years is relatively long time. Take Hofstra if you can afford it. My two cents.