CU Boulder vs Purdue for Aero Engineering

Compare College Acceptances
1

Hello everybody.

I need to commit somewhere by this weekend. I have visited both campuses. CU would be a bit cheaper but cost isn’t a big factor.

I loved Purdue’s engineering program and campus, but the dorms are not as good as CU. I also prefer the weather in Boulder.

I’d need a 3.2 to guarantee aero at Purdue FYE, whereas I’m already an aero admit at CU.

Purdue seems to be more rigorous than CU, and harder to get a high GPA. This is important to me for future endeavours.

Purdue is 800 miles from home, whereas CU is only 20.

Purdue seems to have amazing internship and employment opportunities, but CU does as well.

I am curious to know if Purdue’s supposed higher prestige for aero specifically makes it worth it over CU Boulder. Any aerospace people out there, please let me know.

I’m lucky that both options are great options, I can’t go wrong either way.

Would love some insight.

1 Like
2

My son was admitted to both but went to Alabama - in part because of the dorms as you mentioned and maybe being closer to home.

He’s a MechE who works at an aero company. He’s a sample of one but had 20 interviews last fall and 5 offers - two of which were aero companies - General Dynamics and the one he works for. He works with kids from Michigan, Purdue, Washington, Case Western etc. but they also hire W Michigan, Akron, Utah, etc. So I wouldn’t worry about prestige - because companies are looking for folks, often from ABET accredited schools - but they are not studying the rankings like people who are applying to college do.

I can’t tell you if CU is less rigorous than Purdue. I would not make that assumption. Engineering will be rigorous anywhere and while some companies may have favorites, i’d say the vast majority are looking for ABET accredited grads - and the where doesn’t matter. Here’s a little snippet from Cornell - because they post the “how” kids find jobs. They registered no aero folks but the top two ways they found jobs was linkedin and facebook #1 and Internet postings #2. Think indeed. Because my son didn’t like who came to his career fair, etc. it’s how he did his entire search and you saw his results above - so I would say your future endeavors (if work related) - you’ll have great success from either if you have the drive and fortitude to do so (and the economy participates - i.e. stays strong).

You might look at program size - Purdue is large. I’m not sure about CU. Obviously CU has aero adjacent jobs - lots of jobs in the Denver area. We know from @momofboiler1 that Purdue has a very large career fair.

Any school is worth it if it’s affordable and right for you. Rank isn’t necessarily the reason to attend one excellent school over another.

Taking away the prestige angle - which feels right to you? I know CU gives you what you want to study - but does it feel right over Purdue overall?

if it does, than you should choose it and not look back.

If you prefer Purdue, you should have options - even if not in at Aero, MechE is close. But they note this on their website so this should be encouraging: For students transitioning to their major in Fall 2022, 96.7% of FYE students received their first choice major. Over 90% of FYE students have received their first choice major in each of the last five years.

So if Purdue feels right to you, I wouldn’t hesitate to select it (assuming affordable for your family).

Two outstanding choices and both are reasonable decsions.

Best of luck.

1 Like
3

Congrats on the admits!!! Don’t pick based on “prestige” if one school feels better than the other to you. You’re the one that is going to need to do all the work and thrive.

Purdue has a stellar reputation for aerospace engineering, but you’re right that you need to maintain a high gpa freshman year.

If both are affordable you really need to pick based on where you think you’re going to be able to succeed. Things like dorms, food, extra curriculars, weather can make a difference to some students but only you know if it will.

On paper Purdue would edge CU Boulder. BUT it sounds like you have a preference for Boulder but are afraid it would be a mistake to pass up the to more prestigious program. I would go with the one I liked better rather than rankings. There are tons of cool space startups in Colorado that recruit out of Boulder so you’ll have opportunities there as well.

1 Like
4

Purdue. The experience will follow you for a lifetime. Not the dorms.

2 Likes
5

The truth is…it doesn’t matter. There are very few ABET programs in the first place. No matter where your AE degree is from, you’ll have opportunities if you do well in school and make the most of the opportunities around you.

Those schools are so close that it really boils down to intangibles that matter to you. Important companies will recruit at both, and they won’t give you much of a look if you coast and don’t get involved in clubs, internships and/or research projects. The top ten employers according to LinkedIn are essentially the same.

Pick the one you like, but FAR more importantly, be curious, work hard, and get involved.

Good luck!

7 Likes
6

Don’t pick based on dorms because you are only guaranteed housing for one year at both CU and Perdue (if I remember correctly). One thing to figure into cost is off campus housing in Boulder is about twice what you’ll pay at Perdue. However, there are many aero internships in CO and you might be able to save on housing by living at home while you do one so perhaps it can balance out.

You will have a great outcome from either school. Go where you think you will flourish intellectually and socially.

2 Likes
7

However, the web site does not say which majors. Perhaps most majors are not filled to capacity and admit 100% of applicants, but some majors may not admit many under the 3.2 GPA. (Still, 3.2 is not as difficult as Texas A&M’s 3.75, or NCSU’s lack of an automatic admission GPA in secondary admission.)

1 Like
8

Don’t pick by dorms. Dorms are typically only 8 months of one’s life because most students move off campus or to campus apartments their second year.

Also, dorms are about the people, not about the amenities. You can have a great freshman experience even in the crummiest of dorms.

5 Likes
9

Well. Purdue is ranked #3 and Colorado #12.

So close enough. As stated. Work hard, become an active member of the schools community and separate yourself from the pack. Go with fit here.

10

Direct admit to aero at CU plus lifestyle factors elevates CU over Purdue to me. I am also local and every kid I know admitted to both chose CU over Purdue because of lifestyle/fit factors. But Purdue has a great reputation and is a fantastic option if you want a different experience for college. You seem to love a lot about the university. My only concern would be the GPA requirement.

11

One thing to consider is the travel. When a school is too far to drive to, breaks can seem 2 days shorter because you lose 1 day on each end traveling.

When you are in a tough major like engineering, it can be sort of nice to just “melt” after your last final and have just a short car ride home rather than spend an entire day dealing with jam packed Thanksgiving airports.

1 Like