I live in an adjacent community and my kids have friends that attend UML. Almost all lived at home. They attract a lot of kids from the area that don’t get into UMASS Amherst for Engineering or CS.
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I am leaning toward the same conclusions that most other commenters have stated. But rather than advocate for a conclusion, I want to say something about process.
What I would do in your situation is break this down into head-to-head decisions.
Pitt and UMass Lowell cost the same. If you had to choose only between these two, which would you pick? As other have said, UMass Lowell doesn’t offer the residential flagship-ish experience that Pitt does, but it’s up-and-coming, and the Honors College + internship funding offer is an enhancement.
So, if you’re going to choose one of your debt-free options, which will it be?
Then compare the more expensive schools. Between Drexel and CU Boulder, if you decide to go with a pricier choice, what’s the winner?
Eliminate one school in each price category, and then approach the final decision from the perspective of choosing between just two options. Is the more expensive “finalist” worth the additional cost?
Your thinking will be clearer if you do it this way. Personally, I think others are right that Pitt seems like the best choice; but you need to reason this out for yourself, and a “bracket” process is the best way to make sure that that you’re fairly weighing the pros and cons.
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Thank you so much everyone! This really helps in deciding which option would be in my best interests.
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OK so update, I was not expecting to get into this school but had gotten into Indiana Bloomington which has by far the best business program out of all my current options. Did not get a price for it so I’m wondering if this changes anything with choices?
Did you get into IU or IU Kelley - the B School?
It’s $56K for tuition, room, and board - so like Drexel.
I’ll disagree on by far the best school. It’s the highest ranked school by a third party magazine - that doesn’t necessarily equal best.
Can you afford IU? Since your parents are only spending $50K, you’ll need $6K plus other expenses.
IU Kelley is HUGE - is that ok for you?
I’d say if you want a niche job - Wall Street, consulting, it’s likely better odds.
If you just want a regular job, like marketing or finance but not in a niche industry, then it matters little.
So Pitt is city, IU is a small town, beautiful campus, and Colorado is in the mountains.
How important are these things to you?
Congrats on the admission.
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I had gotten into the IUB pre business program (which I am not worried about). I am fine with having a bit of debt if it means a better education and job placement. I am looking into more high reaching niche fields so it sounds like IU would be more preferable. Also I am perfectly fine with how many people would attend IU Kelley.
Don’t forget you can only borrow $27k over four years, including $5500 year one. The rest is your parents.
IU will have the best published placement but in the end you will make your success. You will have studs and non successful at all but numerically you can see placement reports and compare. IU does a nice job showing salaries by location / you can see that is what impacts salaries. Companies pay by where (and major) bs where you went.
Hence NY is $93k, Chicago $80k, Indy $66k.
And I’m glad you are confident pre business. Some only want direct admit. That’s a personal choice. We’ve seen some on here not make the cut so just appreciate and accept that possibility up front.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Note on the Pitt #s below the interactive graph is a bit tricky. Make sure to set to 2023 and business. Looks a lot 10% less in salary but that could be major/location impacted. Pitt is a smaller school. IU Kelley is near 10k kids I believe.
It’s really personal preference. Good luck.
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Standard Admission 2025 Criteria | Bachelor's Degree in Business | Indiana Kelley shows the secondary admission criteria for IUB business.
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Any grade below a B (B-, C+, etc), in any first year course, means admission is not automatic and subject to review, ie., selective admission. More than one such grade in any class and the situation becomes very dicey.
This would likely affect 40-50% students. 
3 such grades at the end of first semester means the student is dropped from the Business prerequisites Spring semester Freshman year and won’t be considered for Kelley at all.
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There are annual federal student loan borrowing limits. Currently a college undergraduate can borrow through the program $5,500 as a freshman, $6,500 as a sophomore, and $7,500 as a junior and senior, totaling $27,000)
There are however private lenders (like the owners of College Confidential whose name I have obscured per TOS) that will offer loans without cosignors for significantly more incremental money beyond the Federal limits.
I don’t necessarily recommend taking on that incremental debt but it does exist as an option.
If however seeking I banking or consulting the debt may become inconsequential when spread across a more lucrative career that would be less accessible from non target but cheaper schools.
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