My DS has a difficult decision to make between the above choices. How do they compare? Thanks in advance for your answers
Net price and debt at each?
If you are from Illinois, then Illinois. Because it will be cost effective and you are used to it.
Otherwise why go to Illinois?
UC Davis and Illinois are large schools with an agricultural bent. But Davis is in California, so it wins.
So I would choose between UCSD and Davis unless these are cost prohibitive.
Sorry, I am a California resident. Thanks Greymeer
As a California resident, there’s no reason to go half-way across the country to UIUC. Your daughter should choose between the in-state options.
Just a quick update: First of thank you all your advice. We almost were ready to accept the UCSD EE offer for my son. But yesterday, the waiting list in UIUC moved and now he has to decide between CS in UIUC vs. EE in UCSD. His first choice major in CS in both places. Should this new development change our decision? Thanks in advance.
If he wants CS, choose where he can do CS, not where he is in EE and would have difficulty changing into CS.
Does cost and debt differ and matter?
Yes @ucbalumnus . We are CA residents. Cost differs by 20K/year, but should not matter if he gets what he wants. In my mind, the extra cost should work itself out in the long run anyway.
The CS program at UIUC is better than those at either UCSD or Davis. However, if your son could attend UCSD for CS, the extra cost and the distance would make UCSD preferable. However, if your son wants to study CS, and his choices are CS at UIUC or Davis or EE at UCSD, AND the extra $80,000 is not a problem, than CS at UIUC is the best choice.
Thank you @MWolf