I think you should go to Stony Brook to get started on the EE degree early. You won’t need to transfer. I think this is better because there has been much discussion about the 3/2 programs not panning out for many students and you don’t have time to investigate that. Yes a UIUC degree is valuable and you would have a wonderful placement but realize that a lot of starting salary is related to the location the job is in. I think SB.will give you pretty good opportunities. Also these salaries can even out by mid career where the student with the high debt is stuck paying off a house with no savings, while the other student owns the house and is putting money in the bank. Not to mention having to live like a students with no discretionary budget for some time.
Remember that as a student you can take this in loans each year 5,500–6,500-7,500—7,500. So the people on the line for all these borrowing are going to be your parents. Can they actually qualify each year to borrow that much? Can they make the payments until you can? What if something happens and you don’t make it through the program or get sick, yes it happens. When you graduate the payments will be around 1,500 a month and there isn’t the flexibility of a student loan.
As far as internships go, you should be able to get a good one after Jr year. But freshman will not, they don’t have much courses yet, either do sophomores, it may be possible for them but the fbig internship will just be the one time, I think.