Both are very good. However, from my own experience, in NYC, I would say that Michigan has a much better brand impact and the alumni network is very strong. It is not about ranking! In my opinion, the two most important factors are: 1) Job Placement 2) Admission to highly reputed institutions for Graduate studies . In both these factors, Michigan stands out!
“Probably what UIUC loses for being slightly lower ranked it makes up for by being closer to Chicago.”
Not really. UIUC loses out for being in UC and not in Ann Arbor.
RJK - I believe he was referring to the benefit of Chicago companies recruiting UCIC, which of course they also do in droves at Michigan.
I never thought that would even be a consideration! 
Chicago is obviously a major industrial area, but people often forget that Detroit is as well. Within a 100 mile radius of Ann Arbor, you have 18 Fortune 500 HQs, including Dow Chemical, Kellogg and the automotive industry. Along with those will come major consulting and auditing offices for firms like McKinsey, BCG, Ernst & Young, Deloitte & Touche, PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Accenture etc…All of those firms recruit HEAVILY on campus.
Furthermore, UIUC is not that much closer to Chicago than Ann Arbor. I believe Urbana is 150 miles from Chicago while Ann Arbor is 250 miles from Chicago. Again, Chicago firms recruit very heavily at Michigan.
Do these same companies that Alexandre mensioned (consulting firms) recruit just as well from UIUC Engineering as they do from UMich Engineering?
This is a VERY big factor for me.
See for yourself:
http://ecs.engineering.illinois.edu/complete-list-of-companies-recruiting-2013-2014/
This is from the UIUC College of Engineering. I presume there are more lists elsewhere.
jvallrugo, McKinsey, Bain and BCG are extremely exclusive. They focus primarily on elite universities like the Ivy League, Chicago, Duke, MIT, Michigan, Northwestern, Stanford etc… Basically, top 15 universities. Ross is considered one of the top 5 or 6 MBA programs for placement in Management Consulting firms (top 3 among undergraduate programs).
Here’s a list of the companies that recruit at Michigan’s CoE.
http://career.engin.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2014/01/companylist.pdf
I think the current CEO of BCG is a Wolverine (Engineering no less!)
Detroit is certainly not as large as Chicago as an industrial area though. I’ve said previously, probably 75-80% of the students I knew from Michigan went to one of Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin, or NYC areas for work. Very few seem to end up employed in SE Michigan. Within IOE specifically, it was probably like 50% Chicago. On one hand, yes, it shows that firms in Chicago recruit heavily at Michigan, but on the other there’s practically no advantage geography-wise to Michigan over UIUC. And there’s no way I can believe that Michigan has significantly better access to Chicago than UIUC does.
In the country at broad I’m sure Michigan has a slight edge over UIUC in recruiting, but I just can’t believe it’s hugely different or different enough to justify 90K cost difference. Put it this way, would he be better off getting a bachelors from Michigan or bachelors and masters from UIUC (and getting an extra internship opportunity in the process), because that would still be cheaper for him at UIUC than just the bachelors at Michigan.
^^^^You just proved how well a Michigan degree travels.
“…but on the other there’s practically no advantage geography-wise to Michigan over UIUC.”
Except one university is located in A2 and one in UC. Have you ever been to UC? I’m not say Michigan is worth 90K more than UIUC, but the one huge advantage that Michigan has is the place where it is located. Personally, I would hate living in UC. Even the thought of doing it for four years is depressing.
I have just committed to getting UIUC for undergrad in Mechanical Engineering. I am wondering how common and/or how to go about getting a MS in Industrial Engineering after I graduate from UIUC. If I get a Masters in industrial engineering I plan on going to a top school such as Berkeley, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Stanford, MIT, some ivy league.
And from this would I be able to get a job in a MBB consulting company or investment bank
Thus, what should I do during my 4 years at UIUC to get a masters in industrial engineering at a top school after graduation.
Best of luck at UIUC jvailrugo!
The vast majority of industrial engineering masters programs do not have very competitive application processes. If you do generally well in undergrad (basically, just grades) you’ll get into most programs.
Would getting into a good masters for industrial engineering at a top school get me a job at a consulting company or investment bank like Mckinsey, Boston Consulting, Bain, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, etc.
jvallrugo, most Engineering students who end up at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan or any other BB IBank are hired into operations positions, not front office positions.
However, the recruitment of Engineers as Associates at McKinsey, Bain and BCG is quite common, and many of those actually have MSE in IOE. In fact, I think MSEs in IOE actually have better odds of getting placed. So yes, if you go to Michigan for the MSE program, your chances of landing a job with a major Management Consulting firm are good.
No but I know a lot of people here (where I live) that went to UIUC. Yeah, the general consensus is that it’s kind of a boring place. Is that your point?
Masters programs without funding are generally not hard to get into. Take school seriously and get good grades, maybe do some research if the opportunity presents itself, but you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it.
“No but I know a lot of people here (where I live) that went to UIUC. Yeah, the general consensus is that it’s kind of a boring place. Is that your point?”
Of course.