WPI vs UMass engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1

I am conflicted between these two school choices for engineering. I am not sure what kind of engineering I want to pursue yet. I am thinking electrical, aerospace, or mechanical. When I went on my WPI campus tour and info session, I felt like this place was a powerhouse and I could make a big difference there. 4 months later, I visit UMass Amherst, and I felt at home their too - nice big campus, lots of diversity, just an overall great vibe but I still feel like their engineering education is slightly, I mean slightly inferior to WPI engineering.

It would cost me around $33,000 to attend WPI, and $11,000 to attend UMass Amherst. Cost is a big factor in my decision. I am honestly still mad at these colleges for not giving me enough money because my family’s EFC was literally 00000. I have a 1400 SAT, 4.58 weighted gpa, decent extracurricular, first generation college, low income.

But please, tell me what you guys think, thank you.

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@peterbauce Congratulations on you acceptances! Given the $$$ difference, Umass sounds like a no brainer here. I disagree that Umass engineering has an inferior reputation to WPI in anyway. There are many parents here with industry experience that will verify what I am saying. With an EFC of “0”, can your family swing the $11,000 yearly cost at Umass? That would be my first concern. Have you mapped out where all the money will come from to pay the bill?

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^^ Agreed! You have 2 outstanding options! And it sounds like you’d be happy to attend either one. Go with the one that makes the most practical sense for your family. Sounds like UMass is a great cost-effective choice.