<p>Which of the following schools would you recommend for chemical engineering (i am a PA resident and will also expect need-based aid): Penn State, Pitt, Lehigh?</p>
<p>If you didn’t need aid I’d recommend Lehigh, but Penn State is a good option with in-state tuition.</p>
<p>If you are a senior, wait and see what FA offers are made.</p>
<p>If you are a junior, run the FA calculators. </p>
<p>Lehigh can be pretty generous if your family needs significant aid per the calculators. If you are truly middle-class, and your stats are not stellar for Lehigh, then the state schools will most likely come out better.</p>
<p>Pitt gives more scholarships than Penn State. Though Pitt’s program is not as highly rated, IMHO Pitt has a very good program. From the small number of kids I know, Pitt also has stronger support to keep you in the program. Penn State has support, but you have to seek out the help.</p>
<p>If your stats are very good, I’d throw Drexel in the mix. Kids I know got the best financial deal there for SAT +1950.</p>
<p>According to US News, Pitt and Lehigh are tied in ChemE at 41 while PSU is at 21. ([see</a> here](<a href=“http://universityreport.net/us-chemical-engineering-ranking-2011]see”>http://universityreport.net/us-chemical-engineering-ranking-2011)). Apparently, research productivity wise, Pitt’s ChemE department is [among</a> the top percentage of schools in the nation](<a href=“http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/MarComm/About_the_School/Peer_Rankings/]among”>http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/MarComm/About_the_School/Peer_Rankings/) so its faculty must be pretty highly regarded. Both Lehigh and Pitt are smaller engineering schools than Penn State, as far as number of students go.</p>
<p>One thing I do know about Pitt is that it has recently put about $75 million into their engineering school in the last five years.</p>
<p>I have a close friend that is a chemical engineer and Pitt alumni that I can put you in contact with. PM me if you’d like me to connect you.</p>