Rose Hulman have a lot of kids that would get accepted to Michigan, Northwestern but would rather go there. Saying that to me it’s like a big high school. Also it’s a very male dominant school. You have to drive to go into town and once you get there, there’s not much there.
It more like the engineering department of a small university. Known to produce good engineering students. Students from California do go there.
Msoe - My son did a 5 day summer engineering program there. Nice program, nice city (not large), with things to do in walking area. It is known in the Midwest. Small school.
Also Cal Poly has a stronger reputation and in recent years not the easiest school to get into especially OOS. Mountains and weather. You already live in California so adding on travel if she goes far away. Both my kids are within 4.5 hours away. All things be equal… My wife just drove 1.5 hours to spend the afternoon with my daughter at her college and now she is driving back. It is a nicety.