Northeastern vs Penn State?

<p>Hey guys! So ive been accepted to a couple schools and Northeastern and Penn State are probably my top two choices. I got into the Mechanical Engineering program at both schools, but with Penn State, although I applied to its University Park campus, I got admitted into a satellite campus (Harrisburg), where I will spend two years before moving to University Park for my junior and senior year. </p>

<p>Both Northeastern and Penn State seem like great schools and ive visited both of them. Northeastern has an amazing co-op program, although its engineering ranking isn't as good as Penn State's. But since I didn't get into the University Park campus and since I will only spend my last two years there, is it worth it to go there? I'm really torn between the two because I know University Park's engineering program is one of the best in the country, and Northeastern's co-op program is amazing and it might make up for its mechanical engineering rank. US News ranks Penn State-University Park's mechanical engineering at 17th, where as Northeastern's is at 54th! </p>

<p>I would really appreciate some feedback on which school you think I should attend! </p>

<p>Is cost an issue? Are loans in the picture? </p>

<p>The Harrisburg campus of Penn State is a very nice one. But then splitting the time between two campuses is something a lot of kids don’t want to do. There is always the risk too that the prep at the satellite is not well lined up with the last two years of the program. You might want to get some numbers on that vs those who start at PSU and the NEU numbers as to who continues to get the degree from those who start. On the other hand, there are kids for which NEU is just not appealing. None of mine liked the school. It would be PSU all the way for them, but they have friends and peers that felt the other way. </p>

<p>Since you don’t know which you like better, go for the one that costs the less.</p>

<p>I’d go with the cheapest one for you. :)</p>

<p>Money is not an issue, and both schools have offered me money. As of now, im just trying to find where im going to get the better education. And I don’t know if its worth it to stick to Harrisburg for two years if I can go to Northeastern, where I know engineering wont be as good as in University Park but the coop might make up for it? im not sure haha</p>

<p>If money isn’t an issue, and you don’t mind transferring campuses, then I would go to Penn. Especially for engineering, where it’s ranked so highly. However, if transferring is a concern, then NEU is good second choice. </p>

<p>I’ve been accepted to both schools as well, however I am a transfer student and will be taking classes online to earn my BS in Political Science. I earned my AA about 5 years ago and have since gotten married and had a daughter. I will continue to work full time - I have a great job (outside of my desired field) that pays well, but after 6 promotions there’s no more room for growth and I can’t go to another company nor can I work in my desired profession.</p>

<p>Does anyone here know how the online programs stack up? To my understanding, Penn State’s “World Campus” for Poly Sci will still earn me a degree from the University Park campus (as that’s the only campus that offers Poly Sci), and there’s no distinction between Northeastern’s online courses and on-campus courses.</p>

<p>I’d appreciate any help or advice!</p>