Hi Everyone,
From the career outcome, employer impression, and starting salary point of view which is better for an Industrial Engineering degree? I will be out of state for both and the net cost will be about the same after aids. I see ASU’s Engineering has risen a bit in recent years? And it is much more convenient to fly in and out…
Let me start with a disclaimer. My son is a Cal Poly alum (BS/MS ME) from out of state. I like the school a lot. We all tend to be biased towards the schools we or our kids choose.
Congrats! They are both great options, but they are different.
Essentially the goal of any honors college is to replicate the experience all Cal Poly students get, small classes that use few if any TAs. I don’t know how well Barrett does this, and how far through the curriculum smaller classes apply. It’s highly variable from school to school, but Barrett has a very good reputation.
San Luis Obispo is in an idyllic location. The weather is nearly always perfect. Part of what makes it that way is its isolation. Flights are small and often cancelled by the marine layer. The proximity to the beach and hiking is great, but transportation and big city things will be much better in Tempe.
The ASU campus in general is much bigger. There are some perks with that, mainly big time athletics. CP has sports teams, but it’s not the same, unless you’re into soccer.
According to College Scorecard, average IE salaries at 2 years for ASU grads are $66K. At Cal Poly they are $73K. To put that into perspective, Michigan is $77 and Georgia Tech is $76. That probably has much to do about industries they are each near rather than quality per se.
I think it boils down to intangibles. Have you visited both?