A middle income family or upper middle income family in MI with a high stat student will find UA to be a better financial choice while also getting the education in the ABET accredited field of engineering. UM in-state is not a ‘deal’ as noted in this thread.
There are many things that rank a school that may not be so relevant.
How much debt or what kind of a financial stretch for the family is an important factor. It was a very important factor to us.
The student and the parents have to decide what is the best fit for them.
I cannot tell you what a financial burden is off our backs due to the scholarships, and the money and state college program fees we had pre-paid to have our kids get through school. One doesn’t want to rob money that should/could go to retirement planning or paying off the home mortgage. I survived stage III cancer - so our family had max copays and deductibles for four years; thankfully I responded to everything thrown at the cancer and I am now cancer free. One doesn’t know what could happen during the student college years that can strain a family’s resources. Having extra money available is never a bad thing - one less stress on the family.
At a large flagship, there is going to be intellectual peers - especially with a sizable honors college and honors programs.