<p>I live in SoCal and I plan to transfer next year, but I haven't made up my mind on where to go. I have a few choices, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine and UC San Diego. Pomona and UCI would be more cost-efficient, since I can keep living with my brother instead of moving away. I'm not sure if I should go to a Cal State or not, because from what I've heard they can't compare to UCs, although I know one person who is very successful who graduated with chemical engineering from Pomona. Tuition fee is also important, because UC is a lot more expensive, plus I'm an international student and thus have to pay more and not allowed to loan.</p>
<p>So how would UCI, UCSD and CP Pomona compare with each other? How different are they in terms of quality? Are there some other options that I should consider?</p>
<p>I actually plan to major in Chemical Engineering as well. However, I can’t offer you much insight. I live in Pennsylvania and I’m not familiar with west coast schools. I am highly considering Penn State. Anyway, check out this website. You may find it helpful. I picked some of my top choices, and looked at how they ranked against one another.</p>
<p>[Best</a> Chemical Engineering Programs | Top Engineering Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/chemical-engineering-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/chemical-engineering-rankings)</p>
<p>If the program is accredited by ABET you have some guarantee of its quality. Of course schools which are more selective might have a more demanding program but if your school has a good alumni network and their Career Fairs are well-attended by companies (you should be able to find this out), you should be able to find an initial job. After that the school on the diploma is much less important than your experience as an engineer.</p>
<p>Bottom line, consider your finances, how you fit at the university and whether the specializations and opportunities you want are available.</p>
<p>Low cost schools with chemical engineering include South Dakota Mines, New Mexico Mines, and Minnesota.</p>