College Pros & Cons: UIUC vs DePaul

<p>Hey guys. I've posted a thread on this before, but I have more info regarding tuition costs and such, so I would like to ask opinions again.</p>

<p>DePaul is going to cost me around 8,000 LESS than UIUC with scholarships and aid included (taking loans out of the picture).
Also, I was admitted into both DePaul's honors program as well as their Strobel Accountancy Program, which is a good program, I assume. </p>

<p>UIUC is costing me 8,000 MORE, but it also is ranked as one of the best business schools nationwide. They are known for great recruitment and have great networking.</p>

<p>My question now is, will being a Strobel Accountancy student outweigh the renowned name of UIUC or is the UIUC brand name, as it can be said, a better title to have than Strobel Accountancy Scholar? </p>

<p>I was talking to a UIUC rep, and I mentioned Strobel Scholar (this could just be totally biased, but I'm not sure), and they didn't even know what that was. So, that makes me assume it's not that recognized and honorable a title as it's seemed to be.</p>

<p>I'm just really confused on which school to send in my confirmation to, so any help would be awesome! And if possible, try not to be too biased =] </p>

<p>Thanks a bunch for the help!</p>

<p>Also, I just wanted to add that I wasn’t accepted into UIUC’s honors program or anything of the such, if that adds or changes anything, as well.</p>

<p>In Chicago it would be close to a wash. But nationally UIUC accting is better known. Also very different college experience. B10 life is hard to beat and travels well nationally. Many alums across the USA.</p>

<p>So, UIUC’s name would carry a lot more weight compared to being a Strobel Scholar from DePaul?</p>

<p>Not necessarily. DePaul is smack in downtown Chicago where there are many jobs for accountants. Sometimes, being on the spot counts - especially if you want to have a school-term internship.</p>

<p>Is that savings $8,000 each year or over the course of four years? If this is $8,000 x 4 = $32,000 then you are talking no-brainer. Go to DePaul. Use the savings for something else. If the savings is $2,000 x 4 = $8,000 then that is a whole different story. For some people $2,000 each year is means they have to get a summer job that otherwise they wouldn’t. For others $2,000 each year is just too much more to come up with.</p>

<p>Why don’t you pick up a phone, and call around to chat with working accountants who your family and friends know. Ask them whether it makes a difference or not to choose UIUC over DePaul when DePaul is cheaper.</p>

<p>As to the UIUC rep not knowing the name of the specific honors program at DePaul, well that is not a surprise. The university reps can’t keep track of every honors program in the country. Heck, they can probably barely keep track of the programs at their own universities when they are places with as broad a set of programs as UIUC</p>

<p>The average biz grad from UI starts at $54k versus $45K for Depaul with most of both going to Chicago. That’s a pretty big gap. Depaul accting majors average just over $49.5K. Illinois accting majors average over $55K.</p>

<p><a href=“http://careercenter.depaul.edu/_documents/2010Outcomes/2010%20Overall%20Salaries_Bachelors.pdf[/url]”>http://careercenter.depaul.edu/_documents/2010Outcomes/2010%20Overall%20Salaries_Bachelors.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
[BCS:</a> Business Career Services at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](<a href=“http://business.illinois.edu/bcs/employers/statistics/UG_stats.aspx]BCS:”>http://business.illinois.edu/bcs/employers/statistics/UG_stats.aspx)</p>

<p>So, basically what I’m wondering is even if I’m not admitted to any honors programs or recognized as any such scholar at UIUC, would i still be at an advantage…or would i basically be lost in the crowd of a bunch of others at UIUC who are in the Honors Programs. Is the cost worth it?</p>

<p>I’m also a potential strobel student, and am having to make the same decision. Are strobel students at depaul on the same level as uiuc accounting students? Same opportunities and pay during/after college? I’d appreciate any unbiased answers. Depaul is making the strobel program sound fantastic but I’d like to know for sure.</p>

<p>I would weigh the real cost of living between Chicago and Chambana for all four years. I suspect it would bring that 8K a lot closer, perhaps even close enough to choose UIUC. Crunch the numbers hard - as in post 1st year dorm when most students get apartments. I think the savings over the last 3 years could make it pretty even.</p>