Is graduating from a public university worth it?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>After I obtain my A.A. in pre engineering this June I will transfer to BSU in Idaho in order to start working towards my B.A. in an undecided discipline of engineering. Is getting a B.A. in engineering from a public university enough to secure a career after my education? I have heard that BSU is a decent school but that they are lacking in the math and science department. Are public universities a good option or do I really need to enroll in some prestigious school? Unfirtunatley BSU is currently the only school that I can afford because I am a resident of Idaho and the tuition is not very expensive compared to private universities. </p>

2

<p>Public universities include some of the most prestigious engineering programs out there, so this isn’t really a question of public versus private. Just look at the companies that recruit engineers at Boise State and see of those are the kinds of jobs you’d like to have. If they are, then the school is probably fine for you.</p>

3

<p>If the program is ABET accredited then you will be fine. I have actually been seeing a lot of good things about BSU in the past few years.</p>

4

<p>BSU, ISU, and UI in Idaho all have some ABET accredited engineering degree programs, though not necessarily the same ones.</p>

5

<p>thanks I will have to do some research on the differences between the accreditation. </p>

6

<p>There is no difference between accreditation. They are ABET accredited, no other type matters or is taken into account, and that is all you need.</p>

7

<p>Thank you ! </p>

8

<p>The differences are in which ABET-accredited engineering majors are offered:</p>

<p>BSU: civil, electrical, materials, mechanical (and computer science) <a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=565”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=565&lt;/a&gt;
ISU: civil, electrical, mechanical, nuclear (and computer science and some technology majors) <a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=24”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=24&lt;/a&gt;
UI: biological/agricultural, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, materials, mechanical (and computer science) <a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=23”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=23&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So if your choice is civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering (or computer science), all three will have it. If your choice is materials, nuclear, biological/agricultural, chemical, or computer engineering, then you may have to choose one of these schools based on having your desired major.</p>

9

<p>Most engineers that you will meet during your career (you will find out later) will come from state flagship schools…either “Whateverstate State University” or the “University of Whateverstate”…or city-name if it has a big enough engineering department.</p>

10

<p>Or “State Tech”</p>

11

<p>Georgia Tech
Michigan
Purdue
Berkeley
Illinois
Virginia Tech
Texas
Texas A&M</p>

<p>All elite engineering schools, all public. I could list dozens more very good engineering schools that happen to be public.</p>