Help, I am currently stuck between deciding where I should go to college next year, Marquette or Uiowa! I am a senior in HS right now, and for the moment my major is undecided engineering. I believe that I will eventually become a mechanical engineering but I’m not so sure yet. Both are great schools and similar distances away from home. The program sizes are about the same, although Iowa is a much larger school. I got way more money at iowa than marquette, think 17,000 vs 30,000 per year. Could anyone give me advice for each school regarding job placement, and how well you can find jobs, research, and internships/coops there? I know marquette is better ranked than iowa, but a big ten school should have a lot of resources too? Thanks for all of your feedback, I really appreciate itt!
Bump! If anyone has an opinion, I’d really appreciate it
Can you list net price for each?
To find net cost, do:
(tuition+fees+room+board) - (scholarships+grants) =
30,000 for marquette
19,000 for iowa
Save the money and become a Hawkeye.
Consider the culture. Marquette is a conservative Jesuit School. Iowa is bigger and a bit less regressive. Does that make a difference to you?
“regressive” - what!!!
Marquette is Catholic, on the conservative side, smaller, private, sporty/jocky.
Iowa is a big ten school - socio-economically diverse, laid back, big spectator sports, wider variety of abilities (but NOT in engineering, where all students are strong), lots of choices and majors.
What’s your parents’ budget?
I am catholic, and I liked the atmosphere of both schools! My parents said not to worry about the price- we are decently well off and the fafsa gave no money- but obviously it is something to consider. I know that iowa isn’t known for engineering, but do you think they would still have connections for jobs and internships like marquette supposedly does?
If money is no concern - DO verify that your parents didn’t say that because they plan on taking loans for you - then choose Marquette since you seem to like it better.
Regressive as in the church rejecting the notion of women priests, for instance. Most other religions have gotten over that hurdle. Marquette, being as conservative a Catholic school as any, is certainly no different. They could not bring themselves to hire a Lesbian dean recently – not that places like Hillsdale, Bob Jones, Texas Christian, etc. are any different, but that action sends a message and speaks volumes. Contrast that to Michigan hiring a Lesbian dean 30 years ago. They are not exactly a bastion of progressiveness either.
You can’t compare Bob Jones (academically dubious at best) with Hillsdale (conservative but academically legit) with TCU (regular conservative school). You could compare TCU and Marquette. Both are academically serious, religiously conservative universities.
I think you don’t mean regressive but reactionary.
(the general terms in democracies regarding the political spectrum goes revolutionary-progressive-moderate-conservative- reactionary, with modulations as to what it means culturally in each country.)
Fair enuf! 
Although you neglected to put in “liberal”, but I am not sure where i would put it! LOL
Back to the OP’s question…if both school are affordable, I’d go with your personal preference. The two schools are pretty different (size, Jesuit/public, location) so if you feel one would give you an environment more conducive to your success, go there. Perhaps you could go to the accepted students day at both schools for one last look before you decide.
Personally I would save money and go to Iowa. If money isn’t an issue I say still go with Iowa unless you really really like Marquette. You can’t go wrong with any Big Ten school.
I am having a similar issue - Marquette or James Madison in VA.
I would hate to choose a school over location but I was wondering if there was a big difference academically?
Plus my Dad probably won’t talk to me if I go to JMU, but I really do not want to be in Milwaukee.
@Maria0202: you need to make your own thread, with a clear title ( “Marquette or JMU?”) This is called “hijacking” and is considered very bad manners, so people wouldn’t answer you here as it’d derail Op’s thread.
@Kokomomo: have you made a decision?