Better school or better location?

I’m currently a senior and I’ve been accepted to almost all of the schools I applied to. Still waiting to hear back from from two but most likely won’t get in or won’t get any money.

I’m majoring in business, finance specifically, and I was accepted to Indiana University’s Kelley business school and University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration.

Right now, I’m torn between the two because while Kelley is a higher ranking school, I like Pitt better as a university. If anyone has any insight on either school or how a current undergraduate decided on what school to go to, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Have you visited both?
Kelley is a great business school, highly regarded. Pitt’s a great school too, its business school just doesn’t have the ranking/recognition as Kelley.
How’s the cost for you for both? Are you 100% sure you’re going to stay a business major?
“Fit” is important, and being at the environment that fits you will help you thrive. Thriving in a lesser known program would be better than just getting by in a higher ranked program. (I’m not saying you’ll “just get by” at IU, though). Why do you like Pitt better as a university? Is it the urban location? Something else?

Congratulations on two great choices!

I’m always in the go-where-you-want-to-be camp, if there is not a significant (for you) price difference and not a significant difference in reputation/ranking.

In your case, these are two excellent programs, and I do not think at all that there is a significant difference in ranking/reputation. How you do at school will have a dramatically larger difference on your success in getting your first post-college job and/or grad school than which school you attend. If you go to either, and work hard, establish a network, make contributions, treat everyone with dignity and respect, you’ll do great.

It’s a place you will live and learn for 4 years. Being happy and integrated is important, to quality of life, and to your success in school.

That’s my two cents. It can be argued the other way. But this makes sense to me.

Good luck!

Remember, depending on what you want your experience to be like, a higher ranked program can actually be worse. Rankings are squishy at best. By far and away what will determine your success is what you do, not where you go. I’d follow @TTG’s sage advice…go where you want to be.