<p>I am looking to go back to school for a second bachelor's (or possibly a combined BS/MS) in Environmental Engineering. Which school would be better, CU or Colorado School of Mines? What have you guys heard about the environmental engineering programs at these schools (or at CSU, I will probably apply there too)?</p>
<p>I am attracted to the possibility of doing an international co-op at CU (my other bachelor's is in foreign languages) and I like the bigger, more academically diverse student body. However, I have heard that Mines has a better reputation in engineering, and I want to know a) if this is specifically true for environmental, and b) if as a 23-year-old female I would feel out of place in a predominantly male student body at Mines.</p>
<p>I am quite familiar with all three of the schools you mentioned. I have engineering degrees from both CSU and CU. I also have a son who is currently at Mines. All three schools are solid in the environmental engineering field. In fact, all three rank in the top 50 environmental engineering programs in the US.</p>
<p>CU is probably the best known of the 3. Probably strongest in liberal arts and certainly would be large and diverse (CSU also). May in fact be the best option to tie into an international co-op but CSU probably offers options there also.</p>
<p>Mines is definitely a technical/engineering school. Certainly would be the strongest if your environmental interest is within a context of mineral extraction but the school is no longer just a mining school - they have solid, broad based engineering programs. Excellent track record for placing students into high paying jobs (some of this is skewed due to the large number of high paying petroleum engineering (and similar) students that graduate from there. The campus feel is laid back, no reason a female student should not have a great experience there.</p>
<p>I believe CSU is the best of the 3 if your environmental interest is in atmospheric science or water resources. CSU also has a very impressive research emphasis, particularly in the atmospheric science and water resource/groundwater areas.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply! I am considering studying water resources so that’s something to think about for CSU.</p>