Interesting to me you mention Mizzou. You never hear it for engineering. We met the Mizzou recruiter in Nashville and she said to go to S&T :). Odd for a Mizzou recruiter.
I think you should let your son go to SU.
It’s not known for engineering. But it’s where he wants to go and has valid reasons.
The outcomes seem solid with an average $77k salary. You can ask them to expand upon that geographically and in how they calculate it. Is it salary ? Or bonus etc.
Purdue is elite or near elite in engineering. SU and Mizzou aren’t.
All that said, they are ABET and have solid outcomes. Lots of times perception does not equal reality.
SU is a fine school. You son had reasons for choosing it. And it’s affordable to you.
My son did the same. Had Purdue with merit, wouldn’t apply to their honors and chose a far less reputed school.
He had more interviews than he could handle and 5 offers in the Fall.
I didn’t love his decision at the time but it was his. He owned it and the finish was strong.
As long as you can afford it or it’s not more expensive, I think you need to let the kids decide.
Engineering is hard. Period. He’ll be with smart kids and kids who will see and have success, as will he.
Best of luck to him.