<p>I usually shop for big research universities, so when a friend of my son's asked about smallish engineering colleges in the Midwest, especially near Minnesota, I was not sure how many colleges there are nearer than Rose-Hulman, which is probably farther away than he wants to go to college. He will surely be admitted to State U here, but his family would like him to submit some more applications so that he can compare some different colleges. What are colleges you know of that are </p>
<p>a) conveniently close to Minnesota (his biggest criterion), </p>
<p>b) not too large, </p>
<p>and </p>
<p>c) good for studying engineering? (A liberal arts college with a three-plus-two engineering program with an engineering school might fit his desires). </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I forgot about Northwestern because of the criterion of size, but he might like that. St. Olaf is a very good math school, and maybe starting there would satisfy his desire to be at a smaller college, while still allowing him some good transfer choices.</p>
<p>It's pretty far, but Case Western in Cleveland is a pretty good engineering school. Also UIUC if he's considering Rose-Hulman. I think the University of Wisconsin is supposed to have a pretty good engineering school (I know it's ranked well in ChemE), so that might be worth a look, too.</p>
<p>looking into the same issue for my son (with some other 'needs' or rather 'wants'), 3-2 programs seem a bit problematic because the financial aid isn't the same for the '2'-year school so if you need financial aid and want to know what you are in for, there are no guarantees on that front! You might know this already but just in case...</p>
<p>Students wishing to combine a liberal arts program with professional training in engineering or computer science may want to choose the 3-2 program in engineering, which involves three years of study at Lawrence University and two years of study at an engineering school. Lawrence has formal affiliations with Columbia University (New York, New York), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York), and Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri), but students may transfer to any accredited engineering school with the agreement of the chosen institution....etc.</p>
<p>I have Rugg's open: Group I, Colorado School of Mines (1000-3000 students); Kettering (MI) (1000-3000 students); Illinois Int of Technology (1000-3000 students) Group 2, Calvin (Mi) larger; Detroit Mercy (Mi) larger; Marquette (Wi) larger; Milwaukee Sch. of Engine (Wi) smaller; Oakland U (Mi) larger; Tri-state (IN) smaller; U of Wi at Platteville, larger; Valparaiso (IN) larger, So. Dakota School of Mines (1000-3000 students)....</p>
<p>Couple of smaller lower tiers in MN: University of St. Thomas in St. Paul has an engineering program (although not ChemE). Also, Augsburg College in Mpls (VERY small LAC that borders U of MN-TC; it has a 3-2 program with U of MN, Washington University and Michigan Tech.) Also some of Minnesota's other state schools have engineering programs, for instance Univ of MN-Duluth.</p>
<p>Thanks. I had had the impression that Lawrence had engineering degrees in-house, and then was confused when I checked some guidebooks that didn't mention engineering at Lawrence at all.</p>
<p>One of the messages I have gotten from the Engineering forum is that you do not have to go to a more selective school in order to get a good engineering education.</p>
<p>Also, since engineering is very much a hands-on applications-oriented field compared to other areas of study, many students often do co-ops during their college years (alternating semesters of school and full-time work). Some schools have better co-op programs in place than others and end up placing many of their engineering students with the (usually local) co-op employers they work for before they graduate. Typically, however, this can extend the number of years it takes to graduate. But this is an area of study where certain students may really benefit from such work experience, and it can be a good way to get your foot in the door, especially for students who may not be interested in relocating far from home after they graduate. My S who is more of a hands-on learner and less into academics was sold on the idea of co-ops and decided against a 3-2 program at a smaller LAC environment for this reason since he would already be looking at 5 years to graduate if he did co-ops (although from the upper midwest, he chose to go out east and is at Northeastern where he will be doing 3 co-ops, each 6 months long, over a 5-yr period). We looked at Kettering which is also a strong co-op school and I believe alternates co-op and classes on a quarterly basis...</p>
<p>Just something else to keep in mind when exploring engineering programs and all the different paths that students interested in engineering can take...</p>
<p>Michigan Tech, definitely. It's a very good but often-overlooked small engineering school, basically right on Lake Superior, easy driving distance from Duluth or the Twin Cities, a short 45-minute nonstop flight from MSP. The local culture is as Minnesota-ish as you can get, and the local public radio station (run by the college) is even affiliated with Minnesota Public Radio. He'll feel right at home. </p>
<p>But the University of Minnesota's engineering school is not to be overlooked. Great school, great value not only for in-state but also OOS ($10,650/yr tuition for OOS).</p>
<p>There are at least three campuses in the UW system that have engineering:
Madison, Milwaukee, and Platteville. With reciprocity, of course.</p>
<p>A more straighforwardly engineering-oriented school is the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Marquette also has an engineering program. (edit: Sorry, I see some posters have already mentioned these.)</p>
<p>I also like Michigan Tech. It's a beautiful campus (the months when it is not snow covered - you do have to like snow to go there).</p>
<p>3-2 programs? After three years at a small school, college students have bonded with the school and with their classmates and don't want to leave. And why spend five years? I really am not in favor of 3-2 programs, and if you ask the colleges that offer these programs, I think they will report small numbers of students using them.</p>
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3-2 programs? After three years at a small school, college students have bonded with the school and with their classmates and don't want to leave.
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<p>Commitment to see the program through can be difficult. But if, say, you were at Mac, you might simply be able to hop a different bus to take you to the U of MN for the last couple of years, w/o even having to move.</p>
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And why spend five years?
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</p>
<p>Because typically you get a whole second degree for the additional year of work.</p>