Cornell or JHU for potential Material Science and Engineering major?

[tarry_79]

I was fortunately accepted into many great colleges but I’ve narrowed it down to these two. However, I am having a hard time making the final decision between the two especially after visiting both. I applied as MSE for both Cornell and JHU but am not sure if I’ll stick with this major since I am also interested in the natural sciences.

Overall I’m looking for:

• great academics
• strong engineering & natural sciences programs (in case I end up switching)
• opportunities to study abroad
• good internship placements
• easier placement into grad school (hoping to get a PhD) & eventual research job (public or corporate)
• flexibility in exploring and switching study areas & variety in academics
• flexibility in adding majors and minors even outside of STEM
• UNDERGRAD RESEARCH (would be great to do superconductivity and/or bioplastics research, but am open to any)
• mental health resources
• city campus/location (I live near NYC so I want a similar feel)
• Asian grocery stores/restaurants nearby
• established Asian (Japanese) & LGBTQ+ communities
• good overall school community & supportiveness

Pros for JHU:

• urban/city location
• easy access to public transportation back home & to a lot of East Coast cities
• smaller campus
• slightly nicer weather than Cornell
• personally have a stronger draw to the university
• great undergrad research
• new student center
• can double major across schools & have heard it is easier to double major/minor in non-STEM areas even as an engineering student

Cons for JHU:

• more expensive ($5k more per year, but have appealed; probably not getting the new package by 5/1)
• feels like a weaker engineering program since most of the school is leaning medical
• lack of strong school spirit
• Homewood campus library (not Peabody) closed for at least a year

Pros for Cornell:

• very nice campus
• better dining hall food
• cheaper by $5k/yr (finaid package does have federal unsubsidized loans)
• Ivy League name & connections
• have a couple of friends at Cornell & IC
• famously strong MSE program & good job placement
• already met a MSE professor
• lots of Asian restaurants near campus
• Japanese Taiko performance group on campus that I would love to join
• better school spirit

Cons for Cornell:

• large campus (takes longer to get around, especially in the colder months)
• rural setting, harder to travel outside of the Ithaca area
• worried about finding the right people with such a big student body
• Ivy League stereotypical students?
• personally slightly more reluctant to commit
• can’t double major across schools (can minor)

I am leaning towards JHU but I’m worried I’m making the wrong decision especially as a likely engineering major. Also, if anyone has additional information on these schools and their programs please let me know!

[tsbna44]

You say one is stronger than the other. You can find a rank for anything. This rank disagrees with you (posted below).

To me, it sounds like Hopkins fits you better.

Also, career outcome wise for 2023/24, Cornell reports outcomes from 7 students which they say are 58% of respondents - so it must be a small program.

They offer no salary data due to only 7 people.

Here’s where they got jobs - CA, IN, MA, NM, NY

Applied Materials (1)

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (1)

Dimensional Energy (1)

Fluor Marine Propulsion (1)

IBM (1)

Intel Corporation (2)

Of course, JHU doesn’t show much more - with 9 majors and 9 reporting - although it was one year - 2023/24. Salaries seem low vs. other schools - $70K but a $60K median so that’s likely why they average is low - some taking lower paid jobs…two of five organizations they list are labs.

Good luck whatever you decide. Just pick one and go with it I’d say - it may be both will be fine.

The Best Materials Engineering Colleges 2025