[sbrorson]

You mentioned the cost of tools a couple of times. What's wrong with using MOSIS, which is free? Just asking, since I don't know anything about this area except that MOSIS was mentioned multiple times when I was in grad school back in the 1980s.

[kayson]

MOSIS is a fabrication service. The tools are totally separate, and you'd still have to pay to use them. Universities generally get free licenses though.

[NonEUCitizen]

Perhaps you mean Magic:

http://opencircuitdesign.com/magic/