College Selection for Aerospace Engineering

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently been accepted into all of the schools that I applied to (5) for aerospace engineering and I need help deciding which school to attend. Below I’ll add each school along with the net price per year. I’m starting to lean toward Purdue and UMD, but I’m keeping an open mind. I’ll appreciate any response, thank you for your help!

Purdue University (Honors College):
$39,000 (without federal/school loans)
$28,000 (with federal/school loans)

University of Maryland (Honors College):
$34,000 (without federal/school loans)
**this is an estimated net price, I’ll receive my financial aid package sometime this week)

Virginia Tech:
$33,590 (without federal/school loans),
$28,090 (with federal/school loans)

Georgia Tech
$31,677 (without federal/school loans)
**this is also an estimated net price

Rensselaer (RPI)
$15,062 (without federal/school loans)
**this is also an estimated net price

2

Unless I misunderstand, Georgia Tech should be at least in your top 2 choices. After rereading your post, I assume that your top 2 choices are based upon admission to their respective honors colleges/programs.

3

I understand that Georgia Tech is an incredible school for engineering, do you think the benefits of GT would outweigh any benefits I’d receive in the honors college of Purdue or UMD?

4

^^^yes,IMO GT has a better rep,and it’s cheaper. If RPI is really half the price, I’d go there.

5

I cannot offer an opinion because I don’t know the benefits of those honor colleges.

FWIW, US News rates the top 5 undergraduate Aerospace Engineering programs as:

  1. MIT
  2. Georgia Tech
  3. Michigan
  4. Stanford
  5. Caltech

It might help to check out the research funding handled by each dept. at each of the schools under consideration.

6

@twoinanddone Thanks. If RPI is half the price, that might be a done deal for me as well, I will keep you updated when I receive the package!

@Publisher To my knowledge, they provide more opportunities for research, studying abroad, give priority registration for classes, and offer better housing options. I will look up their research funding, thank you.