UMass vs. Northeastern

<p>Hey guys! I've been accepted to UMass Amherst and Northeastern for engineering and I need help deciding which school to go to. I plan on majoring in chemical engineering with a biochemical engineering minor/concentration because I would like work in pharmaceuticals or biotech. Does one school have faculty/ opportunities better geared toward my goals or are they about the same?</p>

<p>I really like Northeastern because of the co-op program and its location in Boston, but it is also very expensive. It will cost me around 200k for all five years there if I do not get financial aid after my freshman year.</p>

<p>I also like UMass because Amherst is a nice town and it seems like there is a lot to do. The Five Colleges program also seems neat. As an in-state student UMass would be much cheaper, especially since I qualified for free tuition. Overall it would cost me just under 80k for four years.</p>

<p>I have visited both schools and I like them both but I need other opinions. Will one school benefit grad school admissions over the other? Does one school typically have a higher starting salary? Do the same/similar companies hire students from each school? Any opinions/ insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!</p>

<p>IMO Northeastern is not worth the $120K premium over UMass. UMass has an excellent engineering program (top-rated public program in New England). Why do you think you would not get finaid from NEU after Freshman year?</p>

<p>Thanks for the response. I’m leaning toward UMass because it is cheaper but would I be at a disadvantage if I wanted to work for a company in the city? And I received basically no financial aid from neu at all. I would have a chance next year though because I will have a brother in school, but im not sure if it will make a huge difference.</p>

<p>NO–there is a big UMass contingent working in Boston–it is after all the state university, right? You gotta think with your wallet, not your heart. No school is worth 120K out of pocket if you’re not wealthy.</p>

<p>That’s true, I guess I was caught up with the fact that many co-ops through neu are in Boston, which could make it easier to get a job. But paying the 120k extra for neu doesn’t seem like it will pay itself back in the long run. I am definitely leaning toward umass now. I’ll make my decision after visiting again at the open house. Thank you very much.</p>

<p>My S is a ChemE major at UMass and loves it.</p>

<p>He landed an internship for this summer at a major-league biotech company.</p>

<p>That’s great! This is also some assurance that may make UMass my decision. Also, do you know what your son’s average class(engineering) sizes are?</p>

<p>Northeastern is becoming a top engineering school. Umass is not</p>

<p>My daughter just went through the same analysis (different major though) and UMASS Amherst tuition is a bargain compared to higher cost private and OOS schools (especially if you don’t get much for aid from other schools). Note that the undergraduate engineering program at UMASS Amherst is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as tied for 56th in the country among schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, ranked higher than other area schools, such as Boston University, Tufts University, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northeastern University. UMASS Amherst does sound like the best bet. Good luck!</p>

<p>

What is your basis for making this statement? Why the hate for UMass?</p>

<p>Even if neu is a rising engineering school, would it be worth so much extra money if I could have comparable opportunities for less money?</p>

<p>UMass better than Tufts, BU, WIT or NU for Engineering is a joke!. So of these rating services are so wrong that you wonder if someone is paying someone.</p>

<p>

Because they don’t agree with you, they are obviously being bribed. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Give it a rest. Go ■■■■■ somewhere else.</p>

<p>Today I went to the umass open house and it was great. I have officially decided to attend in the fall. Thank you everyone for your input!</p>

<p>Yes. The rankings do sometimes seem peculiar. Someone mentioned UCONN is ranked 69 along with VA Tech and NU. Perhaps they comparing the Honors program at UCONN? It was also really a surprise to see BC was ranked 31? and NU 69. How can people be saying NU is on par with such a discrepancy!</p>

<p>They’re talking about BU???</p>

So, did you attend? And were you happy with your decision?

You will probably never know since OP has not posted here in six years, but I hope he saved the $120K difference. The choice of college matters to a small extent in your first job. After that, it’s about how good you are. Of course, the $120K matters more to some rather than others.