RIT Class of 2025 — Decision Date: By mid-March

As a software developer of 25 years who now hires interns and experienced developers, I can tell you that all 3 would be fine, but RIT would be seen a bit more favorably than the larger state schools, as they specialize in STEM and have well known co-op programs.

After your first job, it will not matter too much as people will just make sure you have a CS degree from a decent program. There’s 3 levels:

Level 1: MIT, Yale, USC, etc.
Level 2: RIT/NC State/Umass (insert any top 100 school here)
Level 3: Schools below this top 125 or so.

In the end, Comp Sci is comp sci anywhere, and unlike other fields, it quickly becomes a piece of paper and your real world experience matters more. Once someone has worked somewhere for 2 years out of college, we care more about what they know and have done in those 2 years at the first job than we do about which university taught you data structures, algorithms and syntax.

Lastly, this advice may not apply if you are going for a niche (like AI, VR, Big Data), where certain schools may have top ranked programs. As an example, my daughter is going to WPI because she wants to go into Game Design specifically. WPI, RIT and MSU were three of her top options since they are top ranked in Game Design, and that’s where gaming companies look to recruit from.

Very good points !!

How do you compare Northeastern CS Vs RIT CS and coop programs. Keeping aside financials

Northeastern I would rank higher for both coop and Comp Sci. Both are very good though and I wouldn’t hesitate to hire from either.

I wouldn’t pick a candidate over the other based on these two schools. It would be more about their internships and interview.

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