<p>University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is ranked number 4 nationally for computer science, while CMU is ranked at the top. However, I have received 41 out of the 47k tuition and boarding for UIUC, while CMU I most likely will not receive any aid or scholarship.</p>
<p>Which school should I go to? Is CMU worth it, despite the money issues?</p>
<p>Obviously UIUC is a no brainer…even without the money it would probably be a no brainer… not sure why the quesion?</p>
<p>I would be very interested in the money… under what program/grant/scholarship did you receive any money from Illlinois? Just curious - that is a pretty fantastic offer.</p>
<p>Why would it have been a no brainer without the money? I’m curious to know, as I’m trying to figure out where I should go. Since, CMU is top for Computer Science, after all. What is the downside of CMU?</p>
<p>But I was declared a Engineering Visionary Scholar, which gives me full in-state tuition +10. And I have another 12k from one of their scholarships.</p>
<p>The downside of CMU is that it’s probably the most expensive school out there. I’m thinking that because you’re from IL, you might look down on UIUC (just like me with Penn State), but it being 4th in computer science makes it pretty amazing… something that’s not significant enough to really change what kind of money you’re making when you get out in the real world.</p>
<p>I’d suggest you visit CMU and not just look at its listings on blah blah blah college ranking websites. What do those rankings really mean anyway? Seriously, does anyone know how they come up with those numbers? Anyway-- visit. Not looking at CS at all, CMU and UIUC are completely different schools of a completely different flavor.</p>
<p>I’m actually from Pennsylvania, haha, not Illinois. And I have visited CMU already, and I’m a fan of the campus. My only fear is that it will be extremely competitive there, and I will end up with a low GPA. I realize UIUC has given me a lot of money, but I have heard their campus is similar to Penn State’s, which I was not a fan of at all.</p>
<p>How are you going to afford CMU? Can your family pay full-freight there, or would you be taking out significant debt?</p>
<p>We are able to afford CMU, but it is quite expensive. Paying for it will be difficult, but doable.</p>
<p>I just want to know: is saving money more worth it than going to the best computer science program in the nation?</p>
<p>Considering that all college rankings are arbitrary, particularly USNWR’s, and that the difference between 1 and 4 on such an arbitrary list is exceedingly small to the point of vanishing, I would take the money and run in a heartbeat. UIUC is one of the top schools in the nation no matter which way you slice it.</p>
<p>None of your potential employers will EVER ask you about the “USNWR ranking” of your school. NOBODY CARES ABOUT USNWR. Honestly. Employers care about the work you’ve accomplished, not the name on your diploma.</p>
<p>Think about how you and your family could put to use all that money you’d spend on CMU vs. a nearly-free ride at UIUC. You could buy a car, put aside money for a down payment on a house, save for graduate school, go on a great vacation every summer, etc.</p>
<p>We are able to afford CMU, so most likely they will not provide any sort of financial aid. I appreciate all the responses. I realize, Illinois is a great school and has offered a large sum of money, but one thing that turns me off is its size and location. It’s a huge state school, and I am not a fan of extremely populated colleges. I have visited a similarly large school (PennState) and was not a fan at all. Also, something else to mention, I plan to minor in art, and I know CMU has a great art program as well. I am not sure if the same goes for UIUC.</p>