<p>UIUC ranks higher than CMU for ME, but CMU is a much smaller school where you are likely to get more attention from professors and have more opportunities to do undergraduate research. If you can afford it, I’d say go to CMU (remember CMU is significantly more expensive than UIUC).</p>
<p>PS: Keep in mind USN&WR rankings should also be taken with a grain of salt. Since the specialty rankings are based on peer assessment only, big state schools like UIUC with a large number of alumni tend to be favored by the ranking methodology.</p>