College Choice Quandry

My son, a senior in HS, is torn between Mississippi State and Kentucky for chemical engineering. He is concerned about the in-state vs out-of-state ratios at each school, plus wondering how many kids go home for the weekend. We are in the Chicago area, so he wants to be sure the campus doesn’t empty out every Friday. Also, Lexington is a much bigger town than Starksville. Mississippi State would be a lot cheaper for us as parents, due to scholarships, and easier to maintain - a 3.0 vs. a 3.3 at Kentucky. Any one have any experience at either school? Appreciate your input -

The schools should be able to tell you the in-state v out-of-state ratios. Just ask. My kids’ college was very upfront with this info.
Also ask how many college events are there on a typical weekend as this will give a clue about staying around on the weekend or going home.

They are both big sports towns. I bet the populations double on a Saturday in the fall with parents and alums coming for the games. I doubt many students go home for the weekend on a regular basis.