Hoping for some feedback between the two schools. Biomedical Engineering track. $20k difference @Union.
There is a apparently a $20k cost difference here, but it’s not clear whether Union costs more or less, or whether the difference is per year or for four years. If it’s $20k for four years, then a $5k per year difference may not be a significant factor. If it’s $20k per year, then that might be enough of a difference to go with the lower-cost option, whichever that is.
Costs aside, Union is basically a liberal arts college that also has a small engineering program. As with most LACs, you could expect small classes and close relationships with profs. LACs typically have a strong sense of community, in part because nearly all students live in campus housing. On the other hand, the BME engineering program seems small and may have relatively limited resources; College Navigator shows only 13 BME graduates last year. There are only a few other engineering majors available and no business school, so if you decide that you don’t actually like BME, the alternatives may be limited, unless you switch to liberal arts. No business-related minors, except economics. Union is close to Albany but not convenient to NYC or other major cities.
Lehigh is basically a small university, with twice as many undergrads as Union, and roughly equal enrollments in engineering, business, and liberal arts. It puts more emphasis on undergraduate education than most universities, so class sizes and sense of community are relatively good. Most students move off-campus as upperclassmen, but this is not a big deal, because there is lots of inexpensive housing adjacent to campus. Much larger engineering school, with lots of different majors. Also noted for interdisciplinary studies with business school; engineering students routinely add minors like business or entrepreneurship. Lehigh has frequent bus service to NYC and Philly, so it’s possible to spend Saturday in the Big City if you want to.
Both schools are roughly comparable in selectivity. Both are noted for an active Greek scene. Lehigh has Division I sports and a strong football tradition. Union is Division III except in hockey, where they play in Division I and have a strong tradition.
Both Schenectady NY and Bethlehem PA are “rust belt” cities that were hurt by the loss of manufacturing jobs. My impression is that Bethlehem is gradually recovering, and has improved noticeably over the past several years. Have not been in Schenectady recently.
Thank you for your response Corbett! It was $20k merit a year at Union along with being in the honors program with a great networking opportunity. The savings of $80k over four years to go to Union makes a big difference vs no Merit at Lehigh for undergraduate school.
One of the struggles is what you had mentioned about the lack of business school at Union. Not much to fall back on if you decide BME is not your thing. Lehigh’s interdisciplinary studies is tough to turn down alongside the BME program.
Wish more folks shared their experiences or knowledge as well but thank you so much for your response.
If the costs were the same, I might lean Lehigh. But at $20K/year less, Union seems like the better value.
Union has no business school, but they do offer an interesting major in “Managerial Economics”. If you were to decide that you don’t like engineering (which is not unusual), the “Managerial Economics” track looks like a practical, quantitative alternative. Also, it looks like Union upperclassmen can get undergraduate credit by taking certain graduate-level business courses at Clarkson University (which has a branch campus in Schenectady, close to Union). Those who do this can optionally continue for a fifth year of study with Clarkson to get an MBA.
I don’t know what the costs for the Clarkson MBA would be, but if it can be completed with only one year of additional study, the costs should be relatively low. If you happened to have, say, an extra $80,000 after four years at Union, that would likely be more than enough to cover a fifth year of study for the MBA.
However the MBA is a better investment if taken after a few years working, in order to speed a promotion. In that case zrtnir the cost may even be picked up by the company.
That being said, Union is an excellent university and in terms of vibe it’s really close to Lehigh. So it’d be hard to pass up the scholarship.
Btw, employers don’t need a business degree. If you get a degree in Economics it signals as much if not more (depending on the shool) skill and readiness.
Thanks to both of you for responding and walking through this. Not an easy decision for an 18 year old to sort throw but for a parent the choice is easier based on the cost alone. Not sure the extra 80k gets you any further after 4 years except more in debt and like you said corbett can apply to mba. Worst case can transfer if it’s not what it is cracked up to be. The honors program is enticing with being able to take an extra class a trimester along with the networking opportunities they say are available. Thanks again
Union College is an excellent school. I know many graduates and current students. Each and every one of them is WILD about their school. The alumni, even 30 years later, are closely knit and go out of their way to help other Union grads. Even though it is a small school, its alumni network is very strong. I also think Union punches way above it’s weight. Even though its admissions are not as competitive as, say, Amherst or Haverford, its students are every bit as smart and successful.