Purdue or San Jose State University (SJSU)

College Search & Selection
1

Need to decide between Purdue (Computer Science) and SJSU (Undeclared but intend to major in CS)
CA resident. I live 30 mins from SJSU.

Purdue
Pros: Well known school, better ranked, decent CS program, likely to graduate in 4 years, away from home experience
Cons: OOS tuition $43K/year, middle of nowhere - I mean fly to Chicago/Indy and then drive for 2-3 hrs?, brutal winter

SJSU
Pros: Close to home, in state tuition $10K/year, in the heart of silicon valley, easy to find internship, weather
Cons: Close to home, heavily impacted CS program - may take 5-6 years to graduate, not known outside silicon valley

What are your thoughts?

2

Can you/your family afford the extra $33,000 X 4 = $132,000? If not, then it seems like the decision makes itself. Even if you take an extra year or two, it will cost you far less than Purdue to go to SJSU at $10,000/year.

3

SJSU

4

Any particular reason to choose SJSU over Purdue?

5

Cheap and already in Silicon Valley.

6

SJSU if you can dorm there. CS there is excellent (but you’ll have to work VERY HARD and right from the start to make it), it’s in the Silicon Valley, etc.

7

What are your parents saying about paying for the extra cost at Purdue???

8

My parents have to stretch their finances to pay for the tuition at Purdue. It will be a significant dent in their savings.

9

Doesn’t sound worth it, does it? Sounds like it will hurt their retirement for no benefit at all.

10

Don’t see how the large extra cost and dent to your parents’ savings for Purdue is worth it. But you may want to consider living in the dorm the first year at SJSU if it is not a big deal to your parents’ finances (still much cheaper than Purdue).

11

Don’t mean to hijack this thread, but I’m in the same situation (CA resident about 20 minutes from SJSU). Purdue did give me some money so it will cost about $30K per year. I just loved Purdue’s campus and environment so much more… But I don’t know if it’ll be worth it.

12

SJSU, not only from financial stand point, but also the ease of getting internship, and able to attend various technical meetings/symposiums. Yes, the weather is good too.