Colorado School of Mines vs. University of Arizona

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So, it's coming down to where I want to go. I'll provide a bit of information for everything, and I'd like to hear your inputs. </p>

<p>Major: Chemical Engineering</p>

<p>Colorado School of Mines:
Pros:
-It's out-of-state. I really want to go out and explore.
-Close to the mountains. I want to take up skiing.
-Well accredited university. Highest average salary for a public school.
-Extensive internship opportunities.
-Earned Highest possible Presidential Scholarship ($12,000)
-Average starting salary of ~$70,000 for my major.
-Cheapest flights back to my home city (Phoenix).
-Free transportation to Denver.
-Beautiful Downtown Golden.
-Plenty of Extracurriculars.
-Politically favorable.
-All-engineering. Should be easy to find people to relate to.
-90% employment rate by graduation. </p>

<p>Cons:
-Expensive. It would be around $90,000 in debt by graduation.
-Won't be able to have a car (not really an issue for me at all. I wasn't planning on having one in the first place).
-Not as Urban as I would've liked.
-Small school. I go to a small HS (Graduating class is around 40). I don't really like it too much. I don't know how that'll compare to a 4,000 Undergrad student body though.
-Low Graduation Rate. This is kind of what scares me. It's around 50%. </p>

<p>University of Arizona
Pros:
-Incredible Dorm. I'd be staying at Arbol de la Vida, the newest dorm. It's beautiful.
-Got admitted into the Honors College.
-Very cheap. Practically a full-ride.
-Good-looking campus, at least for Arizona standards.
-Diverse student body.
-Closer to family, so transport would be easier.
-I could get a car if I wanted.
-Earned scholarship through the State of Arizona.
Cons:
-In-state. Not particularly favorable.
-Degree wouldn't provide as much. Lower employment rate/salary.
-Some bad-connections attend there. Some people I don't have good relations with.
-Tuscon is kind of a dirtier city than Golden, Colorado.
-I don't agree with the majority political viewpoints.
-Everyone is taking different classes, might be harder to find help.
-Outside of general campus area, not much to do.</p>

<p>Also applied to UCLA, USC, UCBerk, and U-Dub. Haven't heard from them, so can't make a fair assessment. </p>

<p>I'll add more to the pro-con list if I think of anything. </p>

<p>Seriously guys, what do you think? </p>

2

<p>The pay differences at graduation may have to do with the regional pay differences.</p>

<p>$90,000 in debt is far more than most people would be comfortable with.</p>

<p>What about Arizona State?</p>

3

<p>Not applying there. Prefer to get out of the city of Phoenix at least.</p>

<p>I’ve also talked to some ChemE’s about the whole debt thing. Most of them have said that it really isn’t that bad when you’re making a good amount. Still thinking about it though.</p>

4

<p>You can’t afford CSM. At this point your only viable option is the Universify of Arizona which is large enough to where you don’t have to see the people you don’t want to. If you hang out in the “main” engineering building you’ll be able to find people in the same classes.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that huge numbers if students change majors, including many prospective engineering freshmen. There’s a sense of intellectual freedom that stems from graduating with little to no debt. $90k in debt means that during college you won’t be able to afford going to that interesting conference, eating at that nice restaurant, or doing any number of things which enhance either your academic, personal, or professional life. After college, much of your early years will be spent servicing well over $110,000 in debt which could seriously affect your quality of life. </p>

5

<p>Also, with a high debt load, you may be forced to chase the highest paying job, even if it is otherwise less desirable in other aspects. With no debt, you can afford to take a lower paying job that may be more desirable (better opportunities for future career development, etc.).</p>

<p>Debt beyond the federal direct loan limit of $27,000 (i.e. $63,000 out of the $90,000) will also require co-signers. If your parents cannot or will not help you with that much cash for your school costs, they are unlikely to be in a financial position to co-sign such loans.</p>

6

<p>Do you have someone foolish enough to cosign 90k debt? If not, then you personally only qualify for Federal Direct Loans of 27k total. So the decision is made. The UCs will not be affordable either. Even if you could get those loans it would not make any sense to take them. It’s great that you have an affordable option with Honors college.</p>

7

<p>UA is your solution as of now. 90k in debt is not manageable - even for an engineer, it’s not wise to get much above the federal limit ($27,000 for 4 years). With the money saved, plan to study abroad and do an off campus program :)</p>

8

<p>Have to agree with others here. U of A is a great school with lots to offer, and since you would be single-handedly taking on the debt, would also be a lot cheaper.</p>

<p>As for things to do outside of campus, you’ve got some of the best hiking/mountain biking terrain in the country, cycling mecca, saguaro national park, kitt peak/astronomy, caves, pima air and space museum, Mt Lemmon (ok, not the best ski resort around, but it’s closeby!)… the list goes on. Heck, even if CSM were free, I would still choose UofA!</p>

9

<p>I find myself to be in almost the same boat as you, except I’m considering Kansas State and Missouri S&T. I am also out-of-state, got the scholarship, and am worried about Mines being too expensive. The deadline is in a month and I’m still not sure that Mines is right for me. However, I feel that if I don’t go, I may regret it forever.</p>

10

<p>As for your CSM con list…(my son is an accepted student)</p>

<p>It is “urban” enough. It’s smack dab just west of the Denver Metro area. Golden may be a small town but it’s attached to the larger metro area.</p>

<p>Transportation: you don’t need it. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is “free” (part of your student fees) so you can ride a bus (on schedule or “Call & Ride”) from campus (two stops) to the light rail station a few miles away, then take the light rail into downtown Denver, down to the SE or SW suburbs, and soon to be, all the way to the airport.</p>

<p>Size - coming from a class of 40, I think you’ll appreciate the small class sizes at Mines. You won’t just be a number. The faculty to student ratio is also low.</p>

<p>Low graduation rate - that’s because the courses are HARD. You have to plan on working hard. There are a lot of weed out classes.</p>

<p>Mines has the #1 return on investment of any public school, for at least the past two years (maybe more). Last year (not sure if this year’s rankings are out), it beat Harvard Business School.</p>

<p>By now you should have your FinAid package to see what grants, work study, and loans you received in addition to the scholarship (which puts you down to in-state cost).</p>

<p>Many students get paid internships after freshman year - and the pay is about $19-45/hour depending on your major (petroleum engr is highest). This can help pay for school. Plus, there are opportunities to do research if you seek out professors.</p>

<p>Have you done a Mines visit? There are new residence halls (one opening this year) that are fabulous. They also have a great rec center. Golden is safe, safe, safe, too.</p>

<p>You’ll have a lot of support at Mines since the first two years nearly everyone takes the same core classes.</p>

11

<p>bigal6 - FWIW, my DH is an EE from K-State. He works with nearly all Mines grads. They are all great engineers. Are you in Kansas? If so, there are “neighboring state” tuition rates for some Colorado schools - not sure if Mines is on the list because we’re in-state and it’s not an issue for us.</p>

<p>K-State = big
Mines = small</p>

<p>Both Manhattan and Golden are awesome.</p>

<p>DH worked with MO S&T grads in Illinois - they are also great. Have you made campus visits?</p>

12

<p>JulieCC- I live in Houston, TX. Family in Kansas, dad is a kstate alum. I have visited all schools and all are impressive but kstate impressed me the most. I think it provides the most opportunities. What does your DH think? Kstate is truly a family IMO and not a bad engineering school either.</p>