I was accepted to these two programs (undergrad), and I will have a very hard time deciding. Disregarding money (In which case UMich instate tuition would absolutely demolish Columbia), how do these two engineering schools compare in character and education? UMich is commonly ranked higher and I’m very familiar with its strengths, but I’d like to know more, especially as to why one might choose Columbia over Michigan. I’m interested in Mechanical/Chemical/Materials engineering. Much thanks in advance!
Michigan’s engineering departments are more broad. Columbia’s Chemical Engineering department tends to specialize in biological applications. I love Columbia University overall, but unless you are particularly interested in Columbia’s specialties, I would go with Michigan.
Not only would tuition be much cheaper for IS at Michigan, The COL would also be considerably lower. Unless you are getting significant $$$ from Columbia, Michigan is absolutely the no brainer choice. Even with comparable costs, Engineering at Michigan is still the way to go.
I cannot imagine a scenario where paying $150k+ more for Columbia over Michigan would be worth it, especially not in Engineering, where Michigan actually has the edge over Columbia. That being said, if your parents are very well off, and the Columbia campus and culture appeals to you more than those at Michigan, choosing Columbia may be worth it.