<p>I have to tell you, personally I really dislike the multicampus/busing set up at Rutgers. Pitt has one of the best [jazz</a> programs](<a href=“http://www.pitt.edu/~pittjazz/index.html]jazz”>http://www.pitt.edu/~pittjazz/index.html) in the country if that matters to you, with an extremely well regarded annual jazz seminar. Both Pitt and Rutgers have ample opportunities for marching/pep bands. I believe you have to audition for Pitt’s, but not Rutgers’, although I don’t think you’d have any problem joining either. Pitt may have the larger band and may perform more. I’m not sure though.</p>
<p>Both Rutgers and Pitt are very strong in philosophy. Probably equivalent engineering. Guaranteed grad admission at Pitt is a real bonus. Pitt is generally considered a better school, especially if you look beyond US News rankings where they are currently tied, particularly in international rankings. Pitt’s student life marks are much higher, at least per Princeton Review.</p>
<p>PA’s funding issues are going to impact in-state students more than out-of-state, if it goes down as such. PA essentially subsidizes in-state tuition, and that is what most of the state funding goes to. In any case, they likely they aren’t going to suffer as steep a cut as was initially proposed. Pitt has a very large endowment (>$2 billion), so that will soften some of the blow.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you visited both. They are pretty different settings. Pitt is very compact and urban, Rutgers more spread out in a small college city type of atmosphere. Both have major D1 sports, although I think the rah, rah spirit is probably bigger at Pitt (and that may impact the marching band). In any case, both are good schools. Good luck with your decision!</p>