smraff

My S has narrowed down his choices to WPI and Lafayette, each for different reasons. WPI for the excellent engineering program and the variety of engineering degrees available. Lafayette because of the very close knit community there as well as really liking the teachers he met there. He likes the campus there a little bit better as well. FA is $10,000 more at Lafayette.

We are down to the wire here but any feedback or thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated. He is torn because he thinks he will get a much better engineering education at WPI but he really likes Lafayette's close knit engineering community. Five days to decide!

LC82

I don't know about WPI's academics, but I can tell you from experience that the undergraduate engineering program at Lafayette is first rate. Not only from my own experience (which is admittedly dated), but by the quality of recent grads whom I have interviewed and hired. Lafayette offers ABET accredited engineering programs in Chemical, Civil, Electrical & Computer, and Mechanical disciplines. These are offered in the context of a strong liberal arts college that can provide an excellent well-rounded education. About 25% of the 2400 students major in some type of engineering.

According to the College's website here: Program Division of Engineering Lafayette College
“In 2010, 95% of Lafayette’s candidates (currently enrolled) passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination, the first step in obtaining a professional license. That compares to a 2010 national rate of 69% to 87% for various engineering disciplines." —National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.