<p>I am not one to care for the USNEWS rankings, but you have to question it when it is ranked so low. I looked at the CS rankings, and it seems it is well below Rutgers University (my state flagship). Is Rutgers truly better than a school like RPI at CS. Why should I bother spending money on RPI then?</p>
<p>Rutgers has some very strong people in CS. Off the top of my head, I can list something like five CS superstars there in Fredman, Saks, Szemeredi (sp?), Szegedy, and Komlos. I’m sure I’m missing some in that list. In terms of faculty, it’s hard for <em>any</em> school to match that lineup.</p>
<p>One question you might have is whether the student body is comparable, since the average student at RPI comes in with better stats (perhaps indicating higher motivation / aptitude on average).</p>
<p>So where would I get the best education, and the better opportunities in terms of research for potential grad school or employment. Which is the best bang for the buck?</p>
<p>I am a Rutgers grad and I am the dad of an incoming RPI freshman (from NJ) and have looked at some of the numbers. A direct answer to your question can come from [College</a> Education Value Rankings - PayScale 2012 College ROI Report](<a href=“http://www.payscale.com/college-education-value]College”>College Education Value Rankings - PayScale 2013 College ROI Report). RPI is ranked 20th in 30 year ROI and Rutgers is ranked 74th. This is probably somewhat skewed in that RPI is a nearly pure technology school while Rutgers offers a wider range of education. If you could compate CS to CS directly it would probably come out much closer.</p>
<p>Generally, the SAT numbers for the classmates are better as are the graduation rates (77% v. 85% after 6 years). Employers know this and are more competitive in their salary offering.</p>
<p>RPI costs more (over double based on list), but very few actually pay list and get some sort of scholarship. It seems like most pay somewhere in the $35k-45k range to go to RPI. I am not sure what is typical at Rutgers. But it seems that bottom line if you can swing the extra money up front, your giving yourself a better chance of success at RPI than Rutgers. I am talking from the overall school perspective rather than CS in particular</p>
<p>Wait, I do not understand. Why do employers care about the average SAT of a certain school. A test taken 3-4 years earlier than the employment data. Would the relative GPA and research/experience be of more importance?</p>
<p>Well the SAT scores is just one piece of the puzzle. The employers believe they are getting a better product from a combination of the school starting with better raw material if you will and then teaching them well. This may or may not be true, but as long as the employers believe it they offer better paying jobs anyways.</p>
<p>Of course, schools are hiring individuals and if they like your success and interests in their area, you can succeed well from many universities.</p>