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<p>I have one son studying computer science (CS) at an Ivy and another son who got his CS degree from a state university. The classes at the Ivy are far more rigorous, if you actually want to learn a lot.</p>
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<p>Which specific schools?</p>
<p>No doubt there is significant difference in the quality of CS major degree programs, but it does not necessarily track general school prestige or “well known academically prestigious” NCAA conferences. The usual “big 4” in CS include one NEWMAC, one UAA, and two Pac-12 schools (no Ivy League schools).</p>
<p>I can’t comment on the quality of the classes as I have only gone to a state school and was not a CS major. However, I had a lot of friends in CS, and several of them got jobs at places like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. Those companies had a large recruiting presence at my school. My point is that in certain fields, being at a state school will not have a major impact on your job prospects if you are smart and motivated. It may be the case that you would learn more at a more prestigious school, but IMO the real value of a college diploma is in its ability to help you get a job/get into grad school. If you’re only concerned with learning, you could go to the library and teach yourself for free.</p>