How much does the ranking of the school’s engineering program matter?
Specifically in my case, is an engineering degree from Virginia Tech significantly better than one from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville? And is one from University of Tennessee significantly better than one from Mercer University?
Virginia Tech is significantly stronger and well-known in engineering.
Is this a question of money? What are the costs of attendance for each (tuition/fees/room/board minus grants/scholarships, not including loans)? How much loans will you need to take out?
I would only recommend UT Knoxville or Mercer ONLY if they are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper… otherwise go to VTech.