Hi,
I am new to this. Within two weeks, my son needs to decide between UIUC ( Urbana Champaign), UW Madison and Milwaukee School of Engineering for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. We live in Wisconsin. There is no scholarship offered ( high FAFSA) except for MSOE (matched up with UW Madison) My son should be valedictorian that will have a scholarship from state but limit to Wisconsin schools. There is also a wait list choice for University of Michigan Ann Arbot (don’t know how that works). We can help half of his tuition but he has one sibling will be college in two years and we only have one income for last 18 years…I grew up in UK system so here is quite different – really appreciate any help in what college to pick regarding the quality of education and financial worth!
UIUC is an amazing school, especially for EE or CS. I think it’d be worth it, but if cost is a limiting factor MSOE and UW are both good schools.
UW-Madison is also good for engineering. But they don’t admit directly to an engineering major, I think? I’ve not heard bad things about MSOE but it is small. Which may be good (more individual attention), but it also means it’s less well-known.
How much are costs at each after scholarships? How much can you pay? Undergrads can only borrow a small amount themselves.
UUIC is one of the top Engineering programs in the country. However, if cost is a deciding factor your son will have a great education and opportunities at MSOE or UW-Mad. Weigh where he feels most comfortable and balance that with what you can afford. There isn’t a bad / wrong option here.
UIUC is higher ranked, but engineering isn’t a field I would pay a lot more for. Though being guaranteed your major would be a big factor.
Thanks for the great replies! (I just found the replies – I must turned off notification by accident…)
My son ruled out UIUC after visit mainly on the size and full tuition. MSOE matched tuition with UW Madison also said he can graduate one year earlier cause of the 60+ credits from APs and youth option courses. He has 4.4 GPA and 1st in his class…Son had his moment going through the emotion to settle to his safety school (couldn’t get in his dream school MIT& Carnegie Mellon…even Michigan Ann Arbot put him on wait list…) I feel sad for him too… as he most wants to study EECS…
Tomorrow morning (Sunday) we will recheck UW Madison for the last chance…to see if he’s okay to let go of the chance of exploring research field that MSOE doesn’t offer. We only have very little time left for the decision…
Wish I have more wisdom to guide him.
Thanks again! I only wish I have found this site earlier!
For EECS I’d go with Wisconsin. Engineering is strong but CS is among the best in the country. He can also apply to the Honors College if he wants more challenge and a more intellectual group + a FIG or learning community for this. The fact he can get a state scholarship to UWisconsin on top of it (considering money is a concern) should seal the deal.
One big disadvantage is that almost all his engineering classes will be large.
MSOE has one main advantage: it is smaller. He won’t be one in the crowds; he’ll have smaller classes and professors he’ll get to know (this last issue can be alleviated at Wisconsin through the honors college commitment). However he’ll be challenged less and the college has a higher percentage of commuters so there’s less of a community feel.
Average GPA at UWisconsin 3.84, at MSOE 3.62
Average act: 29, average sat 1290- top 25% threshold 1420 or 31 at Wisconsin, no act provided at MSOE but avg sat 1240, top 25% 1290 (the average u Wisconsin student is like the top 25% at MSOE; 25% u Wisconsin students have 760+ in math).
Percentage freshmen who live in campus :93% UWisconsin, 74% MSOE
%small classes : 44% UWisconsin, 37% MSOE
% large classes : 37% UWisconsin, 1% MSOE
(From the CDS)