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<p>While that is a cogent argument and true in a sense, statistically, a school with the resources and experience to support a top engineering program in one area will be able to support a top engineering program in another concentration as well. That is why you see quite a few schools where the entire engineering department is good. Obviously some will be better than others, but those schools have the right environment for a top program to thrive, and they usually do.</p>
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<p>then you see the Delaware’s of the world, where being located close to large industries and companies, Dupont in this case, leads to the school having just one truly excellent Engineering department, such as ChE.</p>
<p>When you are 5 years out of school and have a PE license, there is very little difference between #4 and #204. With the possible exception of contacts in the industry.
Go with the school you are most comfortable with.</p>
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<p>Ahhhh, but your situation professionally after 5 years out of school could very well be dependant on whether you graduated from the #4 or the #204 ranked school, primarily due to:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Better entry opportunities offered to the students of the #4 ranked school compared to the #204 ranked school.</p></li>
<li><p>Better education offered to the students by the #4 ranked school compared to the #204 ranked school.</p></li>
</ol>