I was accepted to U of M-Ann Arbor, but couldn’t afford to attend for 4 years. Would going to MSU for 4 or going to Dearborn for 2 and transferring to U of M-Ann Arbor be the better choice? Both routes would cost about the same. I am instate as well.
I am also in the Honors College at MSU
Ultimately, your diploma will reflect where you graduated form, which would be Michigan-Ann Arbor. However, the experience at MSU would be more “complete”. What is your intended major/career track?
Mechanical Engineering
Msu honors college/engineering is excellent. You will get a job right along side a Michigan graduate. Forget about rank. It’s a great program.
Didn’t your acceptance date come and go already to have made that decision?
MSU and UM costs are similar. MSU Honors does come with some financial perks though, yes? Did you speak with the UM financial aid office before making cost your final deciding factor? - they are really good at working with accepted in-state students.
I did speak with their financial office, theit cost is $36,000 more than MSUs. They said they had no money to offer me because of my familys income.
Then I would agree with post #4. There is a lot to be said about the college experience and building relationships with both peers and professors. MSU does have a wonderful engineering program - and the Honors program provides you a wider latitude to explore along your path to graduation.
Best of luck and Congratulations!!
I don’t understand how MI could cost you $36,000 more than State if you are living in state as a resident? My daughter was choosing between the two schools and was going to pick State with the $20,000 honor’s scholarship (and professorial assistantship too), but then MI came through with a $40,000 departmental scholarship. So the difference between the two schools was $17,000-$20,000 over four years. The schools are within a grand or so in cost for in state students. If I were your parent I would tell you to go to State in the honor’s program. I think it would be a better experience than living off campus and going to Dearborn, if they are going to cost you the same, anyway.
I am not familiar with the complete cost structure at MSU, but am aware that UM tuition increases after 55 credits and housing costs vary (considering only freshman-year is guaranteed in the dorm and off-campus options are diverse).
With that said, I am also curious how your differential is being calculated too. Adding back in the $20k Honor’s MSU funds, you are saying the difference between the two programs is actually $56k over 4 years? UM doesn’t price by the credit hour but rather the semester so it’s important to ensure the comparison is apples to apples.
MSU gave me the $20,000 plus the Professorial Assistanship and another $2,000 per year scholarship. U of M gave me $1,500
Look like a no brainer to me. Good Luck.
It’s cheaper to stay in one school. If you transfer, you’re going to lose credits and have to re-take classes. That’s very expensive. It’s highly doubtful that you would be at any disadvantage going to MSU.