Don’t be so sure you are not interested in research. It’s where you get to do the hands-on fun stuff of building/making things, using really cool equipment and actually apply what you have learned – research in engineering does not look anything like research for humanities.
While they are both excellent schools, there is no contest in my mind…go for Maryland! Have you read a similar thread http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-maryland-college-park/1891452-university-of-maryland-vs-university-of-minnesota.html#latest