<p>Got admitted as a transfer from a CC but...the costs.
After grants and scholarships UIC $1500/year, UIUC $15000/year
time to finish would be 2.5 years in both approximately. So is UIUC worth all the debt? $40K difference by the graduation. And no to mention all of that is on me, none on my parents. (0 EFC)</p>
<p>No. Illinois Urbana is a great engineering school but at an extra cost of $13,000 per anum it’s not worth it. Not when you can get a solid education at Illinois Chicago and have similar career opportunities if you plan to stay in the midwest.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily say they are similar. It all depends on the career you are looking to enter. If you are looking to stay around Chicago at local(ish) employers, the difference isn’t going to be much. If you are looking for employment at a prestigious and/or national company, the UIUC brand may be worth it. It’s tough to say without knowing your financial situation and career goals.</p>
<p>My financial situation is terrible. I can in theory take out these loans. My savings are near 0, my mother’s contribution is near 0. She can provide housing though as long as I stay in the city, but thats it. Thats where the main cost difference comes from. As far as career goals, the reason UIUC is an attractive school is because companies like BP recruit there and I really wanted to go into oil industry. I guess without knowing too much about the profession, oil/gas is as good of an idea as any other. I wish I could get out of the area though, but it won’t be a tragedy if I stay. I just want to know if going into debt is worth those extra opportunities vs having a little less prestigious degree with virtually no debt.</p>
<p>Don’t put yourself in a financial hole. UIC has an ABET accredited program and you will be able to get a good job after graduation. More importantly, make sure you are prepared to manage the commuting lifestyle. It is a challenge and I see engineering students at my school, Illinois Tech, having challenges compared to the students who stay on campus. </p>
<p>The other thing to do is to look for internships right away. That is probably the best path to a good initial job. Once you have been in your first job for some time, you can see if a Masters degree is beneficial and then you can apply to a more selective program because you will be on a better financial footing and your employer may even pay for the program.</p>