Looking for top engineering schools that won't be terribly expensive

College Search & Selection
1

So far I’ve been accepted to Minnesota-twin cities and have in-state tuition with them.
I’ve been denied from Stanford.

I’m looking at:
Princeton
Columbia
Harvard
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (or whatever)
Georgia Tech
Colorado - Boulder
UWashington

I am going for aerospace engineering and should probably cut down this list. I’m interested very much in Washington and Colorado because I’d like to live in those areas in my future but the COST!

2

What would your intended major be at, for example, Harvard, which doesn’t offer aerospace engineering?

3

What is your budget?

4

Texas A&M

I think it’s a little late to add most schools to your list seeing you’re a senior.

5

sounds like you got accepted to a top engineering school that won’t be too expensive.

Minnesota and Wisconsin have a tuition reciprocity agreement so U Wisconsin might work.

6

MechE

7

It will be tough to top Minnesota in-state tuition. We are talking a top 10 Aerospace Engineering department at the cost of less than $20k/year, all in. And that’s assuming you do not get a scholarship. If you are seriously applying to schools like Harvard and Princeton, you probably have the creds to get you a full ride at Minnesota.

8

If rankings (USNWR) would be a factor for you, UM-TC slots in at a higher position than UC-Boulder and Harvard.

9

Most of the Ivies are NOT top engineering schools.

10

Well, Cornell (9), Princeton (11) and Columbia (18) rank very highly in their category.

11

What are your test scores? You have a 4.1 GPA.

What are your parents saying? If they won’t pay for schools like GT, UWash, Colorado-B, why bother. You’d get no aid and the OOS cost is much more then UMinn.

Are you a NMSF?

You have an odd list if money is a concern. And the last reported ACT you have is a 30, which means schools like Harvard and Princeton would be wasted apps (as S was).

Who is advising you?

12

Your list is too reach-heavy. If you were rejected ED from Stanford, your chances of getting in RD to Princeton and Harvard are virtually nil. And even if you were accepted, you wouldn’t get any merit aid. So I’d drop those 2 for sure. I’d drop Columbia for the same reasons. If reaching for an Ivy is very important to you, then apply to Cornell instead. Another good reach is Rice as they meet full need.

If cost is a major issue then you have four options:

  • Go to UMinn - not a bad school at all
  • A public where the OOS is within your budget, if any.
  • A school that meets full need for your parents' income range (for example, Rice offers free tuition if your family income is under 80K). If your family is low income, you'll likely get free tuition if accepted. Usually these are very selective.
  • A school that isn't as selective as say the top 20 schools, where with good grades and high scores you have a chance at substantial merit. These tend to be small privates like RPI, Lehigh, WPI
13

What did the NPCs for each schools web site? Put is legit numbers and you will get legit numbers out
Also - what physics, chemistry and calc are you in - and what kind of grades did you get first semester - Many engineering programs will look specifically at those classes