Rutgers-NB v. NJIT for CS

College Search & Selection
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Intended major: Computer Science

Rutgers University - NB

Rutgers Pros:

  • Bigger school/more people
  • Many friends going
  • Better social life/“college experience”
  • Many people with the same dilemma have chose Rutgers more often
  • Better opportunities? (internships, connections)
  • Better name outside of NJ for finding job?
  • People say I would be happier here (care about happiness for next four years of life)

Rutgers Cons:

  • Costs 30k/yr for tuition + room/board
  • No scholarships or Honors College/Program
  • Chance of getting bad dorms (no AC, communal bathrooms)
  • Busses to other campuses may be time consuming/annoying

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

NJIT Pros:

  • Costs 5k/yr for tuition + room/board
  • Honors College (Better dorms with private bathrooms, honors courses)
  • More tight-knit community in Honors College?
  • Smaller classes
  • Probably more focused on studying/learning
  • Smaller campus (easier to get to classes)

NJIT Cons:

  • Sometimes describes as “commuter school”
  • Heard the social life is not too good
  • No friends going
  • Bad area (Newark)
  • May not be as happy

The difference in cost between the two is $100k, but my parents will be able to help pay for it without loans. I will want to pay them back, and that might be reasonable as a Software Engineer. In the long term, the difference is about $3k/yr for 30 years, which could be a reasonable sacrifice if I am happier for four important years of my life.

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Congratulations on your acceptances.

First, I think you should go where you will be happier, especially if you can afford it, which it seems like you can.

Second, your calculation of long term difference ( $3k/yr ) is way off. Just pick any online investment calculator, plug in $100K as an initial investment with a typical 6% of return rate. The value after 30 years is $575K. Now use $0 as an initial investment and $3K yearly contribution with same return rate, the value after 30 years is $237K. I am sorry if it is off topic but I wanted to correct it as I see this error very commonly especially in young people just starting their financial journey.

Good luck! I am sure you will be fine whichever college you end up going to.

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For CS jobs, the undergrad prestige matters very little. Your coding skills will be more important.

$100K difference is a lot, as pointed out above. Save the money and put it into an investment vehicle. You’ll be able to retire a lot earlier.