Purdue is not in the middle of nowhere. Colgate is in the middle of nowhere. You are one hour from downtown Indy and two hours from downtown Chicago from your dorm. 40K+ students requires a city to keep it running, so even if you want to walk to something, you can.
Don’t be scared off by the @ucbalumnus post. The gates benefit you so you don’t end up in a major that is over enrolled. This means much fewer hassles with closed classes, labs that are appropriately sized for the class, a good number of qualified teachers to handle the major. Don’t think this is a big deal, talk to any UMD CS major (fixed this year, but the legacy of open enrollment still exists and will for a couple more years).Take care of business (study like you should) and you can pick your discipline. Success at college isn’t about “are you smart enough,” but “are you mature enough.” The people who want to be an Aero, but don’t hit the cutoff GPA didn’t not get it because they weren’t smart enough. They got it because they chose to not prioritize schoolwork.
I know people who went to Rutgers and Stevens as well. Good schools, but definitely not Purdue quality in terms of breadth of opportunity, name recognition.
Here are some career survey results from the three schools:
https://www.cco.purdue.edu/Data
https://careers46.rutgers.edu/public/new_webpage_GradSurveyHome.cfm?school=eng&major_id=650
https://www.stevens.edu/sites/stevens_edu/files/Class-of-2018-Outcomes-Report-Web.pdf
Here are some recent starting pay levels by engineering major. Note that Rutgers gives median, while the other two give average, so they are not exactly comparable. Average can be skewed upward by a few high end offers, although it can also be skewed downward by a few low end offers (but there is more room at the high end).
Major Purdue Rutgers Stevens
avg median avg
Aero Engin 63466
Chem Engin 70334 65000 75200
Civil Engin 60545 58000 65200
Comp Engin 80109 73500 74725
Comp Sci 88801 80000 86300<br>
Elec Engin 68922 73500 72600
Ind Engin 66411 64000
Mech Engin 65894 65000 68000
It is not obvious that the post-graduation outcomes make Purdue worth a $40-52k more than Rutgers.
Now, you could have other reasons to prefer Purdue over Rutgers and Stevens, and you and your family may have enough money that an extra $40-52k is not an issue (no debt, no impact on your younger siblings’ college or parents’ retirement), so that you can comfortably choose Purdue. But the reasons stated in this thread are not terribly convincing.
Here is my counterpoint to my above post. I do agree that undergrad engineering is not that much different from program to program. If you can save a few thousand a year and get a comparable output, then you should consider it.
I live about an hour south of both Rutgers campuses and can tell you that New Brunswick (except the JNJ campus) and Piscataway are miserable compared to West Lafayette. I suspect, but do not know, that the student organizations for engineers will be much more varied at Purdue than Stevens. Want to build a dune buggy and compete nationally? Purdue has that. What to build a solar car and compete nationally? Purdue has that. Want to build an unmanned drone to compete internationally? Purdue has that. A big STEM school is going to have many more opportunities than a small STEM school (Stevens) or a Big not just STEM school (Rutgers). If you want to work in STEM, to me Purdue is the obvious choice.
On the cost. Purdue has not raised tuition or fees for 8-9 straight years and there is no indication that they will break this streak. So if Rutgers increases $2K per year @ucbalumnus figure drops down closer to a $30k difference. Still not immaterial, but probably a little more accurate.
Colgate is in the middle of nowhere? Colgate is within 30 minutes of Hamilton College, 60 minutes of Syracuse Airport and Syracuse U, and 90 minutes of Cornell U and Cooperstown, in central and rural NY state, and not in Indiana.
It has a breathtaking campus on 575 acres within a walk of minutes to one of the friendliest towns in the country, this according to Forbes in 2012.
You should be so lucky as to attend Colgate. A visit would enlighten you, too. Good for the soul and the mind, hallmarks of Colgate’s liberal arts Core and approach to higher education.
And about engineering, Colgate students attend Columbia in 3:2 program, less than 5 hours away in NY City.
Go 'gate!
OP…you were accepted directly into Purdue engineering? And you got merit from Stevens but nothing from Rutgers? That seems odd… Our neighbor’s S17 is at Purdue, but was not directly admitted to engineering but was admitted to Rutgers with merit.
I agree with @ucbalumnus there are reasons to pick Purdue over Rutgers, but I don’t think the name alone is worth that much money. If the money doesn’t hurt your family, then go for it. But I know dozens of Rutgers engineers, many with advanced degrees, with hugely successful careers. I think a motivated student will do great at any of your 3 schools.
thank you for your point and Purdue’s endless opportunities is really what makes me interested. as i said, i do have future goals in innovation and entrepreneurship and for that, a Purdue degree and experience would be 100x better than a small school like Stevens. the idea of building things like that and the amount of clubs and projects going on on campus absolutely amazes me. how is the entrepreneurship on campus? @BrianBoiler
@NJWrestlingmom yes, it may be odd but i was accepted directly into Purdue engineering and did not receive anything from rutgers. I was hoping to be accepted into their honors program but obviously gets more and more competitive every year. stevens has been giving great financial aid since i can remember, and i expected at least $20k in scholarship. i completely agree with your final statement in that all three of these schools are great and if i work hard enough, i can be successful. this is why i am not too stressed about my decision, but just trying to find my best fit. thanks for the helpful response !