<p>I know that UMich is always ranked pretty high in terms of undergraduate engineering, but I was wondering if anyone had any perspective on the strength of other state schools in Michigan. Also, if anyone who is currently in the engineering program at UMich, MSU, etc. could comment on how they like it, the challenges, the overall experience, job placement/networking, etc., that would be great.</p>
<p>also add Michigan Technological University, that school is also very good for engineering</p>
<p>I've heard Wayne State is pretty underrated.</p>
<p>Kettering University (in Flint), formerly know as GMI, is quite good in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. </p>
<p>In terms of rankings, there are seven Michigan universities that are ranked nationally according to the USNWR:</p>
<p>Among Universities that offer Doctoral degrees:
7 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
46 Michigan State University
70 Michigan Technological University</p>
<p>Among Universities that do not offer Doctoral degrees:
17 Kettering University
34 University of Michigan--Dearborn
51 University of Detroit Mercy
66 Grand Valley State University</p>
<p>It is important to keep in mind that there are far more top rated Engineering programs in the former category (universities that offer Doctoral Degrees). The University of Michigan and Michigan State are up against the likes of MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Cal (Berkeley), Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT-Austin, Princeton, Northwestern and other academic powerhouses. </p>
<p>In terms of networking and professional placement, it really depends on what you are looking for. If you want to work as an entry-level Engineer at a local or regional manufacturing company, it probably won't matter. On the other hand, if you want a "fast-track" technical job at a "sexy" Aerospace (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, NASA etc...), BioTech (Baxter, Medtronic, Amgen etc...), HighTech (IBM, GE, Google, Microsoft etc...) companies...or if you wish to get away from Engineering and go into a service-based industry such as Consulting or Finance, you would be better off attending the University of Michigan.</p>
<p>I think the consensus would be 1. Mich 2. MSU 3. Tech</p>
<p>please don't overlook Kettering...among practicing engineers, Kettering (GMI) is recognized and there are co-op companies all over the world. Computer companies, fender guitars, disney, GM, Ford , Chrysler, Bendix, Eaton, ETC. the Kettering campus IS small and does not have the university frills, such as football games, etc, but the student body is close knit and active in all kinds of activities, greek, race cars, study abroad...is worth looking at, especially for girls as they have generous scholarships available, take a look!</p>
<p>Kettering is in Flint. One of the worst cities in the state. I'd hate to be stuck there for four years.</p>
<p>Kettering isn't a state school anyways.....and Flint sucks</p>
<p>^ Not to put too fine a point on it. </p>
<p>But if you're already in the Flint area, Kettering might be attractive. In general, though, I agree that among publics it's 1) Michigan, 2) MSU, 3) Michigan Tech. The distance between 1 and 2 is great, and so is the distance between 2 and 3. But Michigan Tech is still a pretty darned good public engineering school.</p>
<p>Actually...Kettering is in a decent part of Flint and since all the schools is packed into a few acres, you are not exposed to the dark side of Flint. And plus, you're only at Kettering for half the time, the other half you are in the co-op city. </p>
<p>Wayne State also has a decent engineering program. Their labs are modern and nice, thanks to the sponsorship by all the automotive companies near by. That sponsorship also allows for numerous research opportunities. Although, it is lesser than the other big engineering schools in Michigan; it is still a decent engineering university.</p>
<p>Other Public Schools for Engineering:
Oakland University
Lake Superior State University
Saginaw Valley State University
University of Michigan - Flint - Starting up their program</p>
<p>thanks for all of the replies everyone :)</p>
<p>Of those listed above, I am not sure why you would choose a state school over Kettering. The tuition rates at Kettering are not that much higher than U of M especially…we’re talking a mediocre midsize family sedan difference here. Plus, the price on the sticker is not the price you pay. Kettering gives most students a substantial amount of tuition for students who at least meet the admissions requirements and surpass them by a small margin…which is nearly everybody. Plus, you can apply your co-op earnings towards tuition. Seriously…classrooms with over 300 kids in them at U of M or State? Who wants that? And at Kettering, freshman have access and use of labs and equipment immediately…you don’t have to wait until you are accepted to your school’s engineering school later down the road…it all starts right away. With regard to Flint, Kettering is not in a bad area of Flint. It is actually a very stable middle class neighborhood…heck, there is a golf course right next door to the place! And yes, you are only there half of the year anyway because you are away at co-op the other half. Kettering is a very solid value. </p>
<p>Also note…Alexandre mentioned working for glamorous companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, NASA etc…Kettering has co-op students at each one of those places working there as early as freshman year. To say you need to attend UofM to work at a company like those listed is incorrect. Northrop Grumman is actually seeking to hire a lot of new Kettering students for their program in coming weeks.</p>
<p>finn, several of your claims are incorrect. For example:</p>
<p>“Seriously…classrooms with over 300 kids in them at U of M or State?”</p>
<p>Engineering classes at Michigan or MSU seldom, if ever, have more than 100 students in them. Most Engineering classes have between 40 and 80 students enrolled in them. </p>
<p>“And at Kettering, freshman have access and use of labs and equipment immediately…you don’t have to wait until you are accepted to your school’s engineering school later down the road…it all starts right away.”</p>
<p>This is irrelevant. Students at the University of Michigan have access to world class facilities (certainly the best and most advanced in the state) whenever they need them, whether as Freshmen or not.</p>
<p>“With regard to Flint, Kettering is not in a bad area of Flint. It is actually a very stable middle class neighborhood…heck, there is a golf course right next door to the place!”</p>
<p>Even if Kettering is a an ok part of town, as a whole, Flint isn’t an ideal college town, certainly not on par with East Lansing or Kalamazoo and not even close to Ann Arbor. </p>
<p>“Also note…Alexandre mentioned working for glamorous companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, NASA etc…Kettering has co-op students at each one of those places working there as early as freshman year. To say you need to attend UofM to work at a company like those listed is incorrect. Northrop Grumman is actually seeking to hire a lot of new Kettering students for their program in coming weeks.”</p>
<p>Only I never said that one “needs to addend Michigan” to work for one of those companies. I said one would be better off. Major companies recruit on several campuses, but only a few are given special treatment, and Michigan is one of those few.</p>
<p>At any rate, Kettering is a very good Engineering school, particularly for Industrial and Mechanical Engineers. However, it is not quite as good as Michigan.</p>
<p>Between Alexandre and Finn, I believe the question that a prospective student of either university needs to consider is what they wish to get out of their university experience. Granted, we are both playing off of stereotypes of each type of university’s education system and the location it is in.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be to research each school through mailings, websites, and campus visits. Personally checking out a college is one of the ways to determine if a) you would fit in, b) if it will give you what you want, and c) the value of your time there will outweigh the cost - whatever it is for each individual.</p>
<p>Every school is not right for every person, and a comparison of a large state school well known around the country versus a specialized school known within its discipline does not allow an apples to apples comparison.</p>
<p>“Every school is not right for every person, and a comparison of a large state school well known around the country versus a specialized school known within its discipline does not allow an apples to apples comparison.”</p>
<p>I agree that comparing a specialized school to a large state university with a national reputation is like comparing apples and oranges. But it is possible to compare specific programs/departments ar a large state schools to those at the pecialized school. In this case, it would be Michigan Industrial and Mechanical vs Ketting Industrial and Mechanical. A similar comparison would be Babson vs Sloan (MIT) or Haas (Cal) or McIntire (UVa).</p>
<p>University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University</p>
<p>are the 3 best engineering programs in Michigan. I’d go to UMichigan out of the 3</p>