Looking for schools with amazing maker-space/labs/innovation centers - Engineering focused.

College Search & Selection
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DS has a long list of schools, but I can’t help that he’s missing that ‘perfect’ school from his list. Hoping you guys can help me out and make sure we’re not missing any! He plans on majoring in electrical engineering. We are in NJ, and strongly prefer a school within driving distance(7 hours).

He loves projects. Electrical, mechanical, computers, building, etc. Sometimes out of necessity, sometimes purely for interest and desire to learn. I used to think it would be hard for him to go away to school and sit in a dorm room without all of his tools, projects, and workshop space. But once we started touring colleges, we found out that some schools have amazing ‘maker spaces’ where students are allowed to utilize equipment, machinery, and tools to work on whatever projects they want to. The size, quality, and availability of “makerspaces” is what made the biggest impression on him from each school that we have toured.

Now Covid has hit, we are unable to tour any more schools. We are working on a final list, and would love any feedback on these school’s ‘makerspaces’, and also input on any other schools that have amazing spaces like this that we are missing.

He has the stats that allow him to apply anywhere(recognizing T20 schools are all a shot in the dark), but cost will be a factor. When it comes down to it, he will be comparing all other schools to Rowan, which is in-state for us, has a very up-and-coming engineering department with brand new labs & equipment, a great honors college, and a good price-tag (probably $25k/year). Drawbacks are: lack of diversity of the student body(mostly NJ), and lack of nationwide recognition. NJIT, also in-state, also has an AMAZING maker space and strong engineering, but its location(Newark), lack of diversity(75% male), and large portion of commuters makes it a bit less appealing.

To make him choose a school other than Rowan, it needs to be a)similar cost and more interesting, or b)far more spectacular program & nationwide-recognition

His stats: 4.0 unweighted GPA, mid-1500 SAT, 9 AP classes, accepted to our state’s Governor’s School of Engineering, decent EC’s. No hooks.

Schools toured and liked: Drexel, NJIT, Rowan

We toured and didn’t like: Lafayette, U Delaware

Other schools on his list: Cornell, Carnegie Melon, MIT, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, U Md, Princeton, Stevens, Olin, WPI, Cal Tech, Columbia, Northeastern, RPI(he is the Rensselaer medal recipient for his school)

Schools considered and decided against: Lehigh, Johns Hopkins, Harvey Mudd, Duke, RIT

I have run the NPC for all of these schools. COA, just based on financial need, ranges from $18k-$50k, and merit awards are potentially all over the place, so we are really finding it very hard to eliminate anywhere just based on cost at this point.

Thanks for reading this long post!

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We looked at some of the same schools when my D was in HS. She was also looking for amazing maker spaces, labs, and facilities. Our overlap schools - UMD, CMU, JHU, RPI, Cornell, and Lehigh.

Your son’s test scores are stronger than my D’s (33 ACT but also 4.0 UW GPA, 10 AP/DE, lots of ECs, leadership, and volunteerism). We found that it was “easy” to get many schools down to the $40-45K/year mark but we didn’t qualify for any need based aid… Much, much more difficult to hit your $25k/yr number for merit alone. The only places we got to below that were our instate regional universities…

Two schools that you may want to consider that have amazing facilities - Michigan, and Purdue. IMO, Michigan had the best facilities of any school we toured (15 in total). Run the NPCs though as they may not be in budget.

My D is a rising junior at Purdue (chem e) so if that ends up on your list, I’m happy to answer any questions.

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Thanks for your reply! Yes - I think you’re exactly right - it’s easy to get down to $45K/year… he’s got that already for RPI with the medal, but so much harder to get any lower. Our financial need will get us close to that with most schools, but since merit doesn’t add to financial need grants, it seems like one will just cancel the other out, and we’ll still be around $45k/year. But you never know what will happen with merit and financial need, so that is why he still has so many on the list. Only the tippy-top schools like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, drop down below $30k COA based on financial need(obviously no merit there), but chances of getting in are so slim-to-none.

Thanks for the suggestions of Purdue & Michigan - they haven’t been on our list because they are so far away, but if the facilities are that amazing, they might be worth a look.

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Our college search for D21 is west-coast centric. One school we have encountered that looks to have impressive new maker space facilities under development is Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley. https://www.scu.edu/stem/ but they aren’t finished yet. Lots of new Silicon Valley money seems to be pouring into Santa Clara because I guess Stanford can’t absorb it all.

In terms of the public universities, UW in Seattle has the most impressive facilities of any place we have visited, and is the obvious premier engineering school in the Pacific Northwest.

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D is at WPI. I would expect merit for a male to get you to 50-55 & then possibly lower if you qualify for need. (This is for tuition, room & board, fees). Historically they give more merit to females than males, I don’t know about need based aid. We are paying right at our EFC. WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Also admitted to Santa Clara mentioned above, they gave the lowest merit $ of any school, no idea about need.

Purdue is our flagship - the strategy there is to apply as early as you can but for sure before the EA deadline & don’t expect any money. Maybe you will get lucky. They give very little merit money to OOS engineering majors (& in state for that matter) but there is an occasional unicorn!

Best wishes!

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Take a look at Rose Hulman. They have an excellent engineering program and an impressive “maker space”. Although much smaller than Purdue and a bit of a different vibe than some of the schools on your list, you might run the NPC to see if they hit your price point.

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FWIW, friend’s son is at Purdue and just finished first year engineering track. They’re from NJ and Purdue gave him enough merit to make the price comparable to Rutgers. They don’t qualify for any need based aid.

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At Case Western all they talk about on their tour is their maker space. Cost may be an issue. I think their normal merit tops out at 30k.

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We visited ~50% of the colleges on your list within the past year (my child is graduating HS this year, and plans to major in Computer Science & Engineering.)

Definitely take a look at Case Western Reserve University and their Sears Think[box] if the NPC works out for you. Their maker space seemed the most accessible out of the 20+ schools we visited. I believe the top merit award I saw posted this past cycle was $32k/yr for hooked, $30k/yr unhooked.

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Thanks for your reply!
Are there any on my list that you visited that you weren’t crazy about - specifically with regards to the labs/makerspace?

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I have - it looks amazing. Just so far away :frowning:

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Thank you! Good to know… I didn’t think they gave much merit. The school looks great, but is also a bit too far away.

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UMaine has amazing facilities, IMO. And a flagship match program.

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Interest in nanotechnology ? If so, Northwestern University might be of interest.

Is this what you are seeking ? https://cme.olemiss.edu/academics-scholarships/

University of Mississippi Center for Manufacturing Excellence

Accepts 60 students.

100% employment rate.

Combines engineering, business, & accountancy.

Also, https://finaid.olemiss.edu/scholarship/#8

Not certain, but seems as though your son would attend Ole Miss for free. Scholarship stacking permitted.

Would receive full non-resident tuition as academic merit, an additional $8,000 for Honors College if selected, additional money for CME scholarship, plus other scholarships available.

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Link to Northwestern University’s nanotechnology lab / center:

https://www.iinano.org/

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(nothing to add to this amazing thread- just love it when CC threads are so on-point & helpful!)

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Just popping in to say that, with those stats, I’d be surprised if Rowan doesn’t come in under $20k for you. Son is a rising senior; their COA never went above $27k/year for us in state (full pay), despite what they publish. I’d expect him to get the max $10k merit.

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You are right - I double-checked, and looks like it would be around $18k/year for DS. An amazing deal! Does your son like it?

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@scritch loves it! Never came home until COVID hit. It’s on D21’s list as well. It’s a great mix of big school with small classes, great housing, Rowan Blvd is great. D21 would hopefully get Honors College as well - the perks are fantastic.
My son lived off campus this year - full year rent under $6k with his own bedroom right across the street from campus.
Full disclosure- hubby and I are alumni as well!

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@scritch The only one of those my kid ruled out after visiting was Princeton, and that wasn’t due to their makerspace (which we didn’t see.). My child didn’t gel with the vibe at Princeton.

Actually, didn’t end up applying to RPI either, but that was also not due to makerspace. It was application fatigue; RPI’s was due last and my child was exhausted after applying to way too many schools. Already had several acceptances in hand by that point that would be better options in their opinion.