Chapman or UCI? Need to decide and confused! Please help :)

Hello! Sorry in advance as I have also posted this in the UCI forum.
Is anyone trying to decide between UCI and Chapman? I was admitted to both for Journalism, but am having a very difficult time selecting. I do want to go to graduate school after, so being in a program that is fairly small is important to me in order to make connections with my professors and advisor. UCI would be of no cost, while Chapman would be about $16K per year. I should also include that at Chapman I would be in the honors program, if that makes any difference. I hope to get very involved at my university by being a part of student organizations and would like to be in a collaborative environment with small class sizes. I think I am confused because UCI would be of no cost, while I would have to pay for Chapman and I think UCI has a better reputation (not sure about this) but I may be more supported and better able to build my resume at Chapman…?

If anyone has experience with one or both of these schools and the major, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks in advance for your help during this confusing time!! I need to figure it out soon.

My daughter (finishing her Sophomore year at Chapman in health science) had her final choice between Chapman and UCI. With scholarships, the cost was the same. She preferred the smaller classes and relationships with professors at Chapman and she likes the town atmosphere. On our tour, professors stopped us and knew the student guide…that left a very good impression on my daughter. And she does, indeed, have strong bonds with some professors. UCI has a better reputation because they are better known, but we looked at admitted students’ SAT scores and they were close. Having said all this, $16,000 a year is a big difference. Is that affordable for your family or will it be debt? That would be a factor for us. As I told my daughter, go where you will be happiest…and best of luck to you.

@outwhere It will initially be debt, although my family will help to pay it while I am still in school. I like Chapman much better, but am stuck on the whole prestige thing. My plan is to go to law school afterwards and I’m scared that they won’t know of my undergrad institution. Is that ridiculous?

Hi I am curious: what did you choose? Also how was UCI at no cost? Would you be living at home? If you could just say the financial breakdown that would be great. What is your EFC? Did you get financial aid/scholarships to Chapman? Could you tell me the breakdown? Thanks!

@catwoman101 I ended up choosing a school other than UCI or Chapman! UCI was no cost because the financial aid covered cost of tuition and books. My plan was to live at home and my EFC is 0. At Chapman, my yearly cost would have been about 17K per year after the financial aid.

@finallyitransfer Do you mind sharing what school you chose? Did you go community college to transfer and go to a school with a better reputation or did you forget about that and go with another four year? So curious