UIUC vs Michigan Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

College Search & Selection
1

Currently I have been accepted to UIUC and Michigan for engineering, more specifically Mechanical for UIUC (Michigan enters you just as a regular Engineering student first). I’m not sure which school to attend that will give me the most benefits, education and further career-wise.

First, all of my friends want me to go to Michigan. They see it as the better school and better fit for me, and I do agree in some ways. They have not released financial aid decisions yet so I am unsure what I will be paying but I did receive a $15,000 presidential scholarship so tuition will be $45,000 a year. I know for sure that my parents will pay for $30,000 of that cost per year. My parents are divorced and my mom and stepdad make a substantial amount of money so I know I won’t receive much more financial aid.

UIUC is not giving me financial aid, rather they are giving me $20,000 in scholarships each year (presidential and 2 mechanical engineering scholarships). This covers almost whole tuition ($20,880 in state) so I will only have to pay $15,000 a year for room and board, etc. which my parents will pay fully.

I love both schools equally but I feel that Michigan has more prestige and is a better mech/aero engineering school than Illinois is. I know they are about equal in rankings but what do you think will give me better success in the future? I know Illinois has a T&M program, many more professional sororities, and has the opportunities to study abroad for engineering students but I don’t know any of Michigan’s programs that compare.

I know that $15,000 vs $45,000 is a really really big difference for 4 years, and plus I want to go to grad school at MIT or an outstanding engineering school which will be even more expensive, but how can I get there? Which school will be a better fit for me? I will also be sitting down with my parents to discuss my college funds so if I choose Michigan it will be affordable.

For my lasting remarks, which is the better engineering school and why? Which would better pave my way for grad school/ give me more opportunities? Any advice is appreciated!

2

You say your mother an stepdad make a substantial about money. Is it substantial enough to cover the higher cost of attending Michigan…and if so, are they happy to pay for the extra cost? You say love both schools equally and you want to be an engineer. Unless your parents are happy to pay for Michigan, and can do so with a great deal of ease, I would say go for UIUC.

3

The $15,000 left after scholarships and parents at Michigan would be difficult to self fund with direct loans and work earnings.

Michigan’s main advantage is ease of declaring or changing major; it csn be difficult to change to another engineering major at UIUC.

But since you probably cannot afford Michigan, but are fully covered by scholarships and parents at UIUC, you may only have the latter as a realistic choice.

4

Paying $120K extra for an undergrad engineering degree does not make much sense between UIUC and Michigan. Both are top 10 schools. For grad school, especially for a Ph.D. program in engineering, you are very likely to get a fully funded spot (which usually includes a job teaching or as a researcher), so it will cost you nothing. You usually have to pay for a masters, but I would check into the 5 year bachelor/master program at both schools.

5

Agree with the above. Wait until you have all of the financial information then sit down with your parents and make a decision together. I would not go heavily into debt to attend UM over UIUC. Both schools are excellent for engineering and if you do well both schools can get you where you want to go in life.

6

@UCBalumnus “Michigan’s main advantage is ease of declaring or changing major; it csn be difficult to change to another engineering major at UIUC.”

@laurenladehoff I would choose Illinois unless parents are wealthy. However, if you are going to choose Illinois, be sure that you completely understand the issue that @ucbalumnus mentions. At Illinois this even applies even when you are changing majors within engineering. It is not always easy to do.