Hi all, I posted this in the Architecture Major Forum but I thought it would be a good idea to post it here as well:
I am a current high school senior looking to become a licensed architect in the future, so I know that I’ll need to earn a professional degree in order to be on the path toward licensure. This past fall, I applied to a number of architecture programs in hopes that I’d receive some sort of scholarship from some schools. But unfortunately, most schools – generally the more ‘elite’ schools – did not offer much scholarship, so I have taken them off my list. Virtually, my choice is now between two schools: Kent State in Kent, OH, and Penn State in State College, PA. Most online rankings of each architecture program and each university as a whole puts Penn State on top. Therefore, my decision should theoretically be a no-brainer.
But, here’s where it gets tricky: Penn State offers a 5-year B.Arch program, meaning I could be licensed and ready to practice soon after graduation. Also, Penn State has a great alumni network, especially in PA (I’d be paying in-state tuition for PSU, too). On the other hand, Kent State has a 4 year B.S. in architecture program, and then a 1 year M.Arch program. So, at Kent State, I could also be licensed and ready to work after 5 years, but I’d have TWO degrees (bachelors and masters) instead of just one.
Another thing about Kent State is that due to a family tuition-waving benefit, we’d only have to pay for room and board rates, which is about $10K a year. Assuming I stay at Kent for 5 years, my family and I would only have to pay roughly $50K total. At Penn State, however, the total cost per year is roughly $33K, so a 5 year education there would be $165K. So we’d be saving $115K if I were to go to Kent State instead of Penn State. But my question is – is it worth it? Is it worth it to go to a school that is ranked a good amount lower than the other one, even if we’re saving a large amount of money? What are your overall thoughts on both universities and programs?
Thank you for any responses!