Hi! I was wondering if anyone can help me compare Northeastern vs. UIUC. I got each school’s respective business school. However, I got into UIUC’s Business Honors Program. In regard to cost, I did get more money from Northeastern since it is private. I would be paying $15K less at Northeastern than I would at UIUC. Any opinion/feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Normally I would be sharing my family’s positive experience at Gies…daughter Class of 2017, son Class of 2019. However, in this case I would lean toward Northeastern if the difference in cost of attendance is $15k per year…a total of $60k (a large number in my opinion). I admit I have zero knowledge about Northeastern’s business school so you’ll have to wait for a reply from someone else about its merits.
What I will do is suggest areas you may like to look at in your two choices. First, think about your goals and preferences…perhaps write them down. Do you have a major in mind or are you undecided? Is study abroad something you want to do? What is the size of the incoming undergraduate business class? (We realized if the class is very large there may be less access to the selective organizations of the school.). Do you want to live in a particular region post-graduation?
Then research things like AP credit (because it may affect your flexibility when it comes to minors, study abroad, hrs toward a CPA, etc) and RSOs (registered student organizations). My kids found their participation in their business frat and consulting club very helpful when developing skills and considering future career aspirations. In my opinion they are very important growth opportunities as well as necessary for a well-rounded resume.
Lastly, look at job placement statistics. Keep in mind reported starting salaries vary by region. Also look at the number of graduates who are providing the information. It would concern me if I saw high reported starting salaries, but a fairly low response rate from graduates.
If you have any questions about UIUC I’ll try to help. Good luck with your decision!
Northeastern student here, though not business. The program is very solid and through co-op there are plenty of opportunities. I think @novafan1225 can speak more to that as a business student, but I think in this case it would be very clear-cut to Northeastern if finances are in play and you’re familiar and into the co-op program, which is central to the school.
Northeastern accepts a good deal of AP/IB credit (4’s and 5’s for AP) which can help with class flexibility a lot. It’s also a lot easier to switch majors with no secondary admission process for majors. There are of course various business clubs such as IDEA (startup lab) and a consulting club. Northeastern’s career services are also top ranked by the Princeton review in the US, making top 3 every year in the past decade.