Alabama seems to handing out free tuition if you meet certain GPA and ACT score. My son meets the criteria. However we have in state tuition at Purdue which is about 10K/yr. Purdue is the better engineering school by far and has the better co op/internship program. Unsure though of right choice. Free tuition is tempting! Any thoughts?
If your child has the stats, then he’d get free tuition PLUS 2500 per year for eng’g at Bama
Your child could certainly start at Bama and if he didn’t like it, then go to Purdue and pay instate.
Have you visited Bama ? If not, will you?
What are of eng’g interests him?
[QUOTE=""]
However we have in state tuition at Purdue which is about 10K/yr. P
[/QUOTE]
Purdue will cost you how much total ??? $25k per year? Is that ok with you?
Purdue will cost about 22k/yr and Alabama would cost about 12k/yr (free tuition only). There is still room and board fees at both schools. So the difference is 10k/yr. Purdue would have no travel expenses. Purdue has a great co op whereas Bama hardly anything. Purdue is ranked in top 10 for engineering whereas Alabama is ranked 100+. Is free tuition (total of $40k over 4 years) worth going to a less ranked school? In getting a good co op the student could earn close to that amount during their schooling.
[QUOTE=""]
Alabama would cost about 12k/yr (free tuition only
[/QUOTE]
NO…not free tuition only. As an eng’g major, he’d get free tuition PLUS $2500 per year.
From eng’g
Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive a tuition supplement to bring their University-level scholarship offer up to the value of tuition. In addition, they will receive $2,500 per year for four years.
Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $2,500 per year for four years.
From the univ
Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive two-thirds tuition for four years.
Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive the value of tuition for four years.
[QUOTE=""]
whereas Bama hardly anything
[/QUOTE]
? That isn’t true. The state is home to the second largest research park in the nation. There are certainly internships and co-ops available.
Why not visit Bama and speak to those in Engineering to get the answers you need?
And it makes me wonder why Alabama is so desperately trying to get top tier students. The better engineering schools don’t have to try so hard. Most don’t even give out a whole lot of merit scholarships, yet Alabama is free tuition?
How much can you afford to spend? And yes, a student can earn a decent amount from co-op (though that would delay graduation). Does your kid have a strong preference either way?
Seems like the GTech/OSU choice except that the cost difference is much smaller.
[QUOTE=""]
why Alabama is so desperately trying to get top tier students.
[/QUOTE]
lol
The univ has built a mega-sized new Science and Engineering Complex. It wants to fill it with high stats students. It’s not “desperate”, it has a goal. If a company wants to grow it’s business and has a marketing plan, does that make it “desperate”??? lol
[QUOTE=""]
The better engineering schools don't have to try so hard
[/QUOTE]
The more established and known schools don’t have to try so hard… Why is THAT surprising??? The up and coming have to try harder.
You have your doubts…either visit Bama to get the answers you need, or cross it off your list.
We’ve visited Gtech and got no merit aid (yet). So that pretty much is out. OOS tuition is just too much when in state Purdue is hard to argue!
^
Are you saying that your son has already gotten his tuition scholarship award from Bama, but not the 2500 extra award from the College of Engineering ??? If so, you need to contact Saskia Clayton in eng’g to get that…you should have gotten that by now. send a quick email, include student name and CWID.
Free tuition does seem a little desperate when the requirements you posted (which I’ve seen) really aren’t that high. Only a 3.5 GPA and ACT of 32 is pretty average for an incoming engineering student. Sounds like a lot of free tuition!? And in looking at the respective co op programs Alabama doesnt have nearly the student or company involvement that Purdue has (pages and pages vs 1 page). I guess I’m realizing the better value here. I really would rather have a more established program then a school trying to establish themselves. Maybe my next son four years from now!
No, I didn’t say that. I was talking tuition vs tuition as we are still waiting to see about merit from purdue. That extra from Bama would pretty much cover totsl travel expenses over a year. It sounds as if you have ties to Alabama and I certainly didn’t mean to offend. My question merely was regarding tuition at a top tier school vs tuition at a not top tier school. Offers have come from other, smaller private schools too. I just used Bama an example because it’s a state school.
If you want the granddaddy of public university engineering programs, then just pick Purdue. Those boilermakers have been top engineers for as many years as I can remember. It’s a great school.
BUT…so is Alabama. So are plenty of other universities with engineering programs.
It sounds like you really like Purdue. Does your son like Purdue? If so…win/win. If not, and cost isn’t a huge issue, then let your kid pick. What is he saying?
^^
Sounds like Purdue is your choice.
An ACT 32 may be average for an eng’g student, but not average for the univ. The offer is for ANY student with an ACT 32+ and 3.5…not just eng’rs. I’m not sure why it seems to bother you that about 900 frosh each year enter with that award. There are over 5000 frosh who aren’t getting that award.
I know a fair bit about both schools - my husband attended Purdue and has family members that have attended recently. My son is at Alabama. Both studied/studying engineering and have done/are doing co-ops. I think, assuming the $$ difference is doable, that it’s really a question of “What’s a better fit?” . I would say the quality of the actual classes/campus opportunities are about equal. I would also put ALabama’s co-op program on level with Purdue’s.
To me there are two big downsides to attending out-of state vs local. The ability to come home for weekends/long weekends and just chill and reconnect with friends and family is a major plus for 4 a school closer than 4 hours drive time. Even just the psychology of a student knowing he could if he wanted to is huge. A second reason is for any school, there will be more employers for internships and co-ops that are local. My son really wanted a co-op inthe Atlanta are but there were only two companies from this area interviewing. So if he wants to be in Indiana for co-ops/internships; it’s much more likely that would be achievable if he went to Purdue. To a lesser extent it also holds true for internships and permanent jobs after college.
A couple of pluses for 'Bama - first the weather! It’s nice to have plenty of sunny, mild days throughout the winter months. A few years back I spent the month of January in West Lafayette and it about killed me. Second it is a great school with great students. It has many strong programs, not just engineering - so if he decides to change majors there are plenty of quality programs to choose from.
He will be challenged at any accredited engineering school. He will be among peers; especially as he moves into sophomore classes and above.
Bottom line: If he visits Purdue and likes it and it’s affordable for your family then there isn’t a reason to visit other schools. If he wants to see “what’s out there”, or the $10k a year would be a stretch so that it’s worth exploring the possibility, then a visit would be a good way to gather more information.
BTW:
I assume your son is a junior or has already applied to UA. IF he is a senior and hasn’t already applied to UA, then there is no decision to be made. The deadline for Presidential scholarship for Fall 2015 students was in December.
900 students getting free tuition is a lot! Other state schools aren’t able to do that. I never said it bothers me? Why would it bother me? I don’t live in Alabama!
Yes, we do have some decisions! Yes, we applied before the deadlines and were offered a few different presidential scholarships but they were smaller, private schools. So 20k/yr doesn’t really go far! Alabama was the only one who offered full tuition (GT and Purdue did not!). ACT of 34 and 4.0 GPA u.w.isn’t enough at those two schools!
First time posting here…my question…
Does full tuition include room and board?
@tripleteens, Full tuition usually means tuition and associated fees. When you see Full Ride - that usually means tuition & fees, AND room and board.
Triplets?? 3 going to college at once??
With a 4.0 GPA and 34 ACT did you apply to UA Huntsville? THey offer full tuition plus 4 years of housing for those stats. Great internship /co-op/job opportunities right there in Huntsville. I don’t know if the deadline has passed.
No, we didn’t apply to UA Huntsville. So many schools… Not enough time 