Help me decide for CS: Wisconsin ($57k) vs UMass ($34-43k) vs Rochester ($35k) vs UIUC (not CS, $35K)

My job isn’t to give you an answer - because you need to make the decision for yourself. No one here knows you - so to say you should do this or that - could be totally wrong for you.

That said, you didn’t give much to work with. Now you just said costs don’t matter - but you listed costs above - hence I gave you, actually a full answer:

If costs mattered and Wisconsin, high 50s, was too high - then pull it off. If costs don’t matter and it’s close to home, great social life and great for academics - then you might want to go. But I believe they have “required” GPAs to keep moving along in the major - so consider that.

If UMASS is $34K, you’d get need aid - which would surprise me - and please make sure they are not including a loan in that as many schools do. But I noted - UMASS gives you what you want, including quality food - but it is farther from home and a bit harder from the airport.

I gave you similar on Rochester sans food - and noted that at UIUC, I would assume not getting your major. How critical is that to you?

I can’t answer these questions for you nor can anyone else. They can say what they would do but we are not you and don’t know you - so I’ve given you things to consider.

If distance is a deal breaker for you, then you have UIUC (not your major) and Wisconsin (your major) to choose from. Since cost doesn’t matter, that UIUC will be $20K+ cheaper shouldn’t matter (but talk to your parents about that). btw - UIUC locks tuition for four years which is nice.

If distance isn’t a deal breaker, both UMASS (large flagship) and Rochester (smaller school) are both compelling with UMASS strong in food but not airport access and Rochester 180 degrees diffrerent.

I will not answer the question for you of where you should choose. After all, your subject line says “help me”, not decide for me - and I believe I did so in both messages.

Thanks