The first school that came to mind when reading the description of your son is SUNY New Paltz. It has about 6500 undergrads with a definite artsy population but it’s also ABET-accredited for computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. New Paltz has also been called a cute town. But, to top it off, it is in the middle of the Gunks, and though I’m not at all a bouldering enthusiast, I have heard that the Gunks are a fabulous location for boulderers. And although the budget seems to be unlimited, there’s an added bonus that the tuition will be the same as at UMass-Amherst due to the SUNY Tuition Match program.
Not a recent article, but might be helpful: The Gunks, New York Climbing Destination Guide - Climbing