Mechanical Engineering - CSULB or UCSD?

State Forums
1

I got accepted into both UCSD and CSULB Mechanical engineering programs, and am almost guaranteed honors for both. I am having trouble deciding between the two, which I hope to resolve by the end of this week.
I understand some upsides and downsides to each college:
-Professors at either are hit or or miss
-UCSD has higher average starting salary and is higher ranked, but would be quadruple the cost of CSULB for me (I would commute to CSULB).
-CSULB is more hands-on, UCSD is more research based. I would likely have more free time to engage in clubs, research, or internships at CSULB.

I am interested in an R&D job and plan to pursue grad school (given discussions that bachelors degree engineers start out as excel monkeys). I understand that UCSD is better-known for research, but I might have less time to do research there compared to CSULB.
Interested in r&d, would the name of a UC along with top research be better, or would CSULB, where I would actively engage in all the research or clubs I could get my hands on outweigh UC prestige?

2

Oh my this is a tough one. I know that LBSU is not a big Engineering school whereas UCSD is by far.

However, you seem like you would rather go to Long Beach State. Also, just because UCSD has a higher starting salary, doesn’t mean you will automatically get one too (you’ll just have a better chance). You can go to graduate school from either, it’ll be dependent upon you in the end of the day. I would go to Long Beach State and work my butt off day in and out.