<p>I know the question sounds crazy but ucm is offering me boat loads of money! They are offering me $28,000 where as cal poly is offering me $13,000. I would only have to pay like $5,000 at ucm and around $11,000 at cal poly. Just curious on what you guys think. Overall, I love how well rounded cal poly is but ucm is offering me a lot of $$$$ !</p>
<p>In my opinion, $6k difference is not a WHOLE lot, since both are relatively cheap anyway. I’m not sure what your financial situation is, but I think you should go with Cal Poly. UCM is fairly new, and so it has not had a chance to generate a reputation for itself. On the other hand, Cal Poly does carry recognition throughout not just the state, but the west coast and even other parts of the nation. If you graduate within a major that is marketable, I think you’ll be able to pay off the extra $6k. UCM probably won’t leave you with a terrible job, but you might need to work harder because of reputation. Within my dad’s business, Cal Poly students are highly regarded. It definitely helps.</p>
<p>Remember it is not just the money, but also the environment, you will be there for 4 or more years.</p>
<p>So in addition to the financial picture, you also need to bear in mind the fit of the university. If UCM feels like a better fit for you, then of course, the money is an added bonus.</p>
<p>My opinion is Cal Poly is a better school and is usually less money, but not in your case. If those are annual expenses, 44K is significantly more than 20K, if you need loans. I would look into the average pay based on my major for each school, the payments and terms of the loans with the compounding interest, before you make a decision. Just make sure the school you choose is the right fit for you.</p>