Right..I mixed it up. Edited my post to avoid confusion.
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You mean NJIT, right?
yah- will fix
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If you wanted to pursue the aerospace side, would you feel that you were well prepared?
I’m guessing most people at aerospace companies, my son included, are not aero majors. After all.
@arauzc1 can answer you but there’s only 80 or so aero accredited programs in the entire country and I’m sure they employ most every type of engineer. My so, specifically, majored in Mechanical but he had several disciplines hired as part of his manufacturing engineering cohort.
Many will tell you aero is too specific a major vs. a MechE, that might be more easy to pivot in case of an aero downturn.
On the other hand, I had a sales vp in automotive that was aero - so you never know.
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Let me preface that I graduated 20 years ago, but, RPI academically is a great school for aerospace engineering. So yes I was prepared and I would hire an RPI grad in a heartbeat. I did do an aero internship that went well just found a manufacturing job and turned down a different path. I’m from NJ originally and had to choose between RPI and NJIT, and ended up choosing RPI. I can’t speak for Rutgers since I didn’t apply and didn’t even know they did Aero. RPI had a better reputation, nicer campus at the time, and I wanted to get away from home without going to far so that’s why I picked RPI. But I’ve met and worked with NJIT grads and they are good too.
As far as mechanical and aerospace, the degrees have a lot of overlap. You can do either and end up in aerospace or other similar fields. I will go against the grain a little here and say that if you really want to do aerospace then do the aerospace degree. Passion gets jobs, and that’s what the degree shows. I’m in the same situation with my son and he plans to go into aerospace.
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If it helps the students, here are some career outcomes - although RPI isn’t listing % placed, etc. in this report. They do in prior years. For aero, they show $76,092 and MechE as an alternative $77,865. If you look at the 23 report, you can look by major and see the companies people were placed. They don’t show a knowledge rate although they showed 1200 people including in 2023’s so it’s likely high.
Rutgers shows a 92% knowledge rate so they’ve capture most and a median $80K base salary. For aero, they show $80K with an 86% knowledge rate and for MechE as a sub, $77K with a 92% knowledge rate.
Suffice it to say, and these are not much different than other schools around the country, I don’t see how OP can make a bad choice here. But there may be a bad choice for them - especially if Lafayette (less focused) is the preferred, etc.
I put in NJIT too - a bit lower in salary but we don’t know where kids are getting placed, etc - and there’s a $100K savings over RPI and $48K over Rutgers - so how does that factor in for the student? Only they can know.
Best of luck to OP.
Average Salaries CLASS of 2024 Updated.pdf | Powered by Box
2023 Hiring & Graduate School Statistics | Career and Professional Development
Student Outcomes – Career Development Services New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Thank you! This information is amazing! We will wait for the RD results and make a new post. But at this point he is leaning towards Rutgers Honors, RPI and NJIT in that order.
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I would agree with you to a certain point. You state it doesn’t matter where you go to school yet then carve out two schools where you say it does. So, I would say there are more than a handful of schools or so that it does matter especially with the first job or internship and they have that type of reputation and certain firms will target those schools. From there it will be on the individual. One can guess those top schools. After that, your point is well taken. There are kids at all Engineering schools that find those opportunities and get great jobs. Of your list, I would agree with Rutgers as the best choice. It’s a really good school with a great reputation. But, I’ve also heard and have read really good things about ERiddle especially for AE.
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I wanted to update. I think I may just do another post with all the final acceptances but plot twist Kid got accepted to Lafayette , his now second favorite with the Marquis scholarship and aid which brings it down to $22k and also to Northwestern (now favorite) but for $28k which a is at the top of the budget. (waiting on some more decisions and then we will have the final options) and Stevens with Clark scholar status $23K. We have another kid in college right now so I’m worried about the impact the following year when he graduates in the amount of financial aid given at each school. We live in NJ so Northwestern will mean planes and all that. Thank you for reading!
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Have you tried each school’s net price calculator to see what the effect of changing from two college students to one college student will be?
I did, but the issue is that second is paying less than 5k because of generous aid as well. So not sure if the figure I am seeing right now is pretty accurate to basically not having a sibling in college or not. I may have to ask for answers to each school. Just from the NPC itself yes there are significant changes in the aid for some schools.
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The Northwestern name is by far and away the most impactful.
is that why it’s the favorite ?
Has the student visited to validate the interest ? It costs more but it is within the budget.
When the second student is no longer in school, will costs go above budget ?
Academic strength and prestige is a strong motivator. He is a middle child lol and sibling attends Princeton so I think a bit of friendly competition? But he only applied to two ivy’s and always have said he rather go to Northwestern when he was applying. Lafayette he just likes as a whole even that is not as “prestigious “ so long story short he isn’t necessarily super caught up in rankings but real opportunities, academics and experience. Anything over $30k definitely will be hard for us to meet and will require loans.
Has not visited but we will do it this spring since he got accepted.
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When I attended Lafayette’s fin aid webinar- they said they give a “significant” discount for a sibling in college that is removed once they graduate.
we are in the same situation so we asked the schools to run the numbers as if we did not have another child at college. one school- it increased our COA by 15k
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I note that concept is built into what is known as the CSS Profile Institutional Methodology (IM). See the last page here:
Lafayette is a CSS Profile school, but like all CSS Profile schools, they can (and likely do) vary in some details from the IM. Still, their NPC, and indeed what you reported, seem to confirm they are still following this approach in at least some form.
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Be sure your child does a deep dive into the course offerings for his intended major, especially at smaller schools like Lafayette.
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My D went to Laf – she had a number of friends with engineering majors (including ME) and they seemed satisfied with the course offerings. ME is ABET accredited. Of course doesn’t hurt to look at online course catalog.
A friend’s D went to Northwestern for ME and felt the undergrads did not get as much attention as the grad students so ask about that as well.
Honestly you cant go wrong with either great option – it is really about finances plus the (LAC or Big 10 university) experience your son is looking for.
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