My current junior is trying to decide on where to go.
He’s a high stats (5.4 weighted, 4.0 unweighted), #7 of 500 students, still pending test scores but around 1400 SAT, varsity athlete. Not super social, won’t go Greek.
Leaning heavily towards engineering. Possible Industrial w masters in business (MBA or Finance). Likes business aspect of engineering.
We live in Texas. Have toured several and ruled a few out.
Would love some insight.
TAMU is an obvious choice except he doesn’t like it (too big and overwhelming - we have a ton of Aggie family and friends), they aren’t great with scholarships.
He LOVES Auburn - again not excellent w scholarships. He’ll get OOS reduced w merit but still not significant.
We both really liked Ole Miss, I’m concerned w their engineering school. It didn’t feel as well oiled as others and I’m unclear on Quality job opportunities after graduation. They rank poorly for engineering.
He had a strong aversion to BAMA (overwhelming), he liked MState - I felt it may not be best fit for him.
Still considering touring OSU, OU and Baylor.
I’m feeling for his stats and program we need to limit to TAMU or Auburn where he won’t get much in scholarships but will have great programs. Elsewhere he’s a solid candidate for scholarships but subpar programs or not best fit.
Please share your real world experience on these engineering programs and guidance.
TIA
They’re all fine. If he liked Auburn, I’m surprised he didn’t like Ms State. Well he did, you didn’t 
Have you considered Arkansas ? Not SEC but Kansas State ?
As long as the school has ABET accreditation, you are fine.
My son (Bama) worked with an LSU and Ole Miss co op during his summer internship and was impressed by both.
My kid went back a 2nd year.
Find the right fit, including cost, and that will be the right school.
Your son will or won’t deliver, regardless of school.
For industrial engineering, SEC schools with ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree programs are:
- Auburn
- Florida
- LSU
- Mississippi State
- Tennessee
- Texas A&M
Within the state of Texas, there are also:
- University of Houston
- Lamar
- St. Mary’s (San Antonio)
- Texas A&M Commerce
- UT Arlington
- UT El Paso
- Texas State
- Texas Tech
Non-SEC schools in the states where there are SEC schools:
- University of Alabama Huntsville
- University of Central Florida
- Clemson
- Florida A&M / Florida State
- Francis Marion
- Georgia Tech
- Kennesaw State
- Louisiana Tech
- University of Miami
- University of South Carolina Aiken
- University of South Florida
How much is the price limit?
My son wanted them same thing. To land in businesses management but wanted to be educated through engineering and got his Industrial engineering degeee from Michigan a few years ago and works internationally for a large company that likes to employ industrial engineers and business graduates.
His US cohorts were from extremely well known engineering schools and some that aren’t. No one has even heard of the engineering schools the Europeans he works with went to.
They are all smart, educated young adults. Go for fit and affordability over name. I can give you 100s of reasons to go to Michigan or the like but if you can’t afford it. Then it doesn’t matter. Even though programs are Abet certified I would compare other things like clubs, activities, opportunities for him to grow on campus. My son did more business things on campus then most business student’s have done. .
When will he get his SAT scores? Some of these schools will not look positively at an “around 1400”, so if that’s the score and you can do TO, that might be wiser.
Baylor does not have ABET-accredited industrial engineering.
Universities commonly referred to as OSU (Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon) have ABET-accredited industrial engineering, as do those commonly referred to as OU (Ohio, Oklahoma).
Apology for replying a bit late to this thread.
My daughter got her BS in Industrial (UF) and then later her MSE and MBA. It’s a solid plan (and I feel it’s slightly disrespectful that she now earns more than me!).
UF has a great problem, but they are horrible with OOS aid. It does happen, and getting OOS tuition wave in the state of Florida is nice, since in-state tuition is around $6.3K.
Tennessee has a nice program, but they are not great with merit aid.
Two programs you may want to take a look at are UCF and USF. Both can be generous with OOS aid. Both are rising in the ratings, have great locations Orlando and Tampa/St. Pete areas. Orlando is easy to fly into, etc.
For example, here is USF’s info. Note USF OOS tuition starts is about $17.3K, before waivers, scholarships, etc.
Non-FL Resident Scholarships | University of South Florida
Good Luck!