So I got accepted into UIUC, Purdue, and Berkeley for the following tuitions: $12000, $14000, and $22500, respectively. I am an Illinois resident. For a graduate mechanical engineering degree, as I am pivoting my career towards a new industry, which school would you recommend? I may need to do online learning due to employment.
Thank you
UIUC for price and ME rank (#5).
I’m assuming terminal MS since you’re paying. Thesis based or course based? If thesis based, who is doing research or projects that interest you?
It is a non thesis path.
It is just a bunch of classes so it is an MENG degree.
I’d look at the curricula and see what lines up most with your interests. If you can take equivalent classes, I’d go to the cheapest one. Not only will UCB be more, but the cost of living will be much higher.
Where would you like to live?
Congratulations on your admissions. Those are all top-8 ME schools. I agree with @eymgh. Unless one program fits your interests a lot more, go with the cheapest overall, including living costs.
For what it’s worth, we visited all three campuses with our 3 sons on their college tours. West Lafayette and Urbana-Champaign are typical Big Ten college towns. Although it is in the Bay area, which is great, Berkeley is a dump and very expensive.
Thank you, I picked UIUC
Thank you for the valuable response! I picked UIUC
Thank you, I picked that one.
Solid choice. Congrats!
California by a long shot but again it goes boils down price.
You’ll have no problem landing a job in CA with a degree from Illinois. My son had a BS/MS (thesis based) in ME from Cal Poly and works in CA, but he had a offer as far away as PA. If the companies don’t come to UIUC, and many will, just search online. Good luck!