B.A. Computer Science or B.Eng. Computer Science?

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

So I have been struggling on making a decision about which college to attend. I want to major in Computer Science and eventually get a masters in Software Engineering.Cost is a big factor but I have two similarly priced choices at the moment. My college choices so far are:

Vassar College - $1,100/year EFC with no loans
University of Rochester - $3550/year EFC with a total of $23000 of subsidized loans after 4 years

I would like to know what the best investment is for me. Also in one sense, since I want to get a Masters in Engineering, a B.A. in CS shouldn’t hurt me in any way, right? I was focused on Vassar until my family encouraged me to think more deeply about it. They say that I want to study a technical subject so I should attend a technical university… but Vassar’s aid is very enticing.

Thanks in advance for the help.

2

Compare the upper level CS course offerings at each school for both completeness in core areas for the major and elective options.

The degree title BA does not necessarily mean that the CS major is “lesser”.

3

Rather than focusing on difference between BA and B.Eng, I would closely look at curriculum. I know Rochester has a large and accomplished computer science faculty, has a decently ranked PhD program, and will allow you to take many technical classes. Compare it with requirements and offering at Vassar …

If you get an undergraduate degree in computer science that has prepared you well, you can get very good jobs (and do well in those jobs) without a masters degree. Or, you can get a part-time masters degree later. So, additional cost of getting better preparation in undergrad may be worth it. By the way, I am not saying anything negative about Vassar, just that I know more about Rochester’s department.

4

Neither should affect an application for a Masters degree. I agree with looking at the course offerings.

5

I looked at Vassar faculty, program requirements, and course offerings. It has 6 regular faculty members, and another 4 or so visiting/adjunct folks. They cover the basic curriculum well, with exception of no class in databases, but don’t offer many electives. For example, no classes in data mining or machine learning, only one class each in networking, graphics, and artificial intelligence (nothing more advanced like natural language processing).

6

Thank you all. @osuprof, thank you for clearly mentioning these things. I understand that the curriculum is not the greatest, but given the low costs due to financial aid, Vassar seems plausible. Would I be missing out on much? Then again, what you do in college is upto you, especially in CS.

7

@ConfusedNoFury

I agree that you can find resources to learn topics like Databases and Machine learning on your own. I tend to know very little about LACs, but FWIK, Vassar is highly ranked and has a very motivated student body.

Good luck with the decision!

8

My daughter is a CS major at Rochester. The thing that I like about Rochester is that you can pursue many paths towards a CS type degree. There’s a BA in CS. There’s a BS in CS, and you can get a BS without the burden of natural science (physics, biology or chem) requirements. There’s a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering. And you can easily dabble before deciding the right path. Bigger schools often force you to apply to an engineering or liberal arts college, which precludes the frictionless (without internal transfer) pursuit of any path. Smaller schools don’t offer all those choices. All that said, Vassar is a great school and if money is a big factor, that’s a good reason to go there.