Everyone’s preferences vary, but I can add one student’s data point. When my daughter was looking at CS admission last year, BU did not make the cut for her to apply.
She was accepted to both UW-Madison and Purdue and it was an easy choice at Purdue. The fact that her sister had graduated the year before may have influenced the decision.
1.5 semesters in, she’s quite happy.
But having been born at the UW-Madison hospital while my dad was getting his PhD, I know it’s also a very solid school.