Northeastern [$23k] vs. RPI [$24k] for Computer Science [$20k parent contribution]

Compare College Acceptances
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For better community input, please provide the below details about your college offers:

Net price per year at each college, after applying scholarships and financial aid grants.
NEU: 23k
RPI: 24k
Cost isn’t a factor anymore for me

Maximum parent contribution per year.
$20,000

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

RPI: Computer Science
NEU: Computer Science and John Martinson Honors Program

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

NEU: Boston Campus
Starting both in fall semester this year

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

Hoping to do a Master’s degree. Hopefully, a combined masters at the school I’m at.
Hoping to land a good job after graduation, but I know that’s mostly on me to find good opportunities for myself and network.

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).
Domestic. Living in New Hampshire. Both schools are about a 2 hour drive.

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

Weather: I like sunny but not a big factor. Hate cloudy days.
Class size: prefer less than 30 students per class
Culture: I’m a bit nerdy, but I hope to get out there and improve by social skills and be more of a public speaker.
Frats: not planning to join. I don’t want to do greek likfe.

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.
Visited both. Really liked both. Here’s my take:
NEU’s biggest strength is being in Boston, so opportunities close to home, and the co-op program at NEU is very strong. RPI is better for research and arguably has a more favorable teaching/curriculum but not by a lot. Also, RPI has lots of gen eds but not a big deal because I have AP credit. I like the quantum computer on RPI’s campus but I don’t like Troy.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?
Both were free applications. NEU is highly regarded in my family and community. I’m a rensselaer medalist, so RPI was an obvious one for me.

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Two great gets - and btw - you can do co op at RPI too (and most schools).

One is in Boston - and one isn’t. That’s a main difference - what do you think about that?

Both also publish career stats - while these typically don’t include all people reporting, RPI is showing a $105K salary with a $65K to $165K range. They don’t list success rates.

NU doesn’t show a salary average but bands. They show 4% still looking but when that was timeframe wise it doesn’t show. I put some links below for you.

Best of luck - if nothing else, the I’m in Boston vs. I’m not might be all you need to use to differentiate.

Here is a screenshot:

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Average Salaries CLASS of 2024 Updated.pdf | Powered by Box

Starting Salaries - Career Outcomes at Northeastern University

Cooperative Education Experience (Co-Op) | Career and Professional Development

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Is NEU’s co op system exclusive to NEU? Like, if I don’t go to school in Boston, will I be able to get the same opportunities as NEU students?

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Calling @TomSrOfBoston @DadOfJerseyGirl

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Nevermind, no longer considering NEU.

RPI vs. Purdue for me now. Talking to family about if we can afford Purdue.

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Congrats on offers from two great programs!

I don’t think there’s a clear difference in program quality, in terms of the core CS content. (or at least there hasn’t been in the past - see below.) I believe RPI’s requirements are a bit more math-heavy, but there’s nothing stopping you from taking additional math at Northeastern.

RPI students certainly can and do get internships and co-ops in the Boston area and all over. I would expect, though, that some companies are in the habit of having Northeastern co-op students rotating through, and don’t have that same relationship with RPI. Of course, there could be employers for whom the converse is true.

Northeastern students take specific “professional development” classes that coach them in resume prep, interviewing, networking, roles in the workplace, etc. This could be a plus for you, considering your goals to improve your social and public speaking skills.

When I was helping my kid research Northeastern’s CS curriculum, I was impressed by how well-thought-out the teaching methodology was. However, it seems that they’re completely overhauling that curriculum, and not everyone is happy with the change.

I’m not fully qualified to weigh in here, but I’ll say that some aspects that impressed me seem to be going by the wayside. I don’t have deep knowledge of RPI’s approach, though, to do a fair comparison.

How do you feel about gender balance? There will be more men than women in CS, at either school, but RPI’s gender-imbalance is university-wide.

Tough call - definitely pros and cons to both.

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That was a quick change! :slight_smile: Just kidding. I know this must be a crazy, stressful day choosing among your fantastic choices. I hope your preferred school is affordable.

Calling our Purdue expert @momofboiler1. If I recall, her student’s top 2 were Purdue and RPI several years ago (ChemE major).

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Oh! Is the curriculum stuff I just posted about the reason NEU got eliminated?

It sounded as if you already needed small loans for RPI (or NEU), so if the affordability (or not) of Purdue requires a family conference, maybe RPI is the wiser path to take, especially given the uncertainty of the job market in the next few years. I don’t see a reason to over-stretch for Purdue when it wasn’t even making your top two until just now.

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My Purdue grad really liked RPI too. Felt that it was a smaller version of Purdue with a very similar vibe.

At half the price, RPI for the win!

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Lots of colleges offer optional co-ops, but few others make it an integral part of the curriculum like Northeastern (others include Cincinnati and Drexel).

RPI offers optional co-ops: Cooperative Education Experience (Co-Op) | Career and Professional Development

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How much does Purdue cost?

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Many of the coop jobs at Northeastern, especially those in the Boston area, are exclusive to Northeastern students, many are open to coop students at other schools.

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I really appreciate everyone’s comments. Based on the suggestions, I’ve taken out Purdue from my consideration due to cost. Back to between NEU and RPI.

My deposit deadlines were extended, so I’ve got some time to make a decision.

Concerns about each:

NEU:
Curriculum might not be as strong
Might struggle to find a CS co-op given current job market
Culture/fit - I seek a traditional college experience and that might be lacking at NEU as most students are professional focused (co op program)

RPI:
Might lack professional opportunities because of it’s not great location
Lacks name recognition or connections potentially
Not a lot to do in Troy

I’m looking to get out to the west coast for my career.

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No on both.

And you could say the same about Northeastern - but in RPI’s case, both points are incorrect in my opinion

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I imagine the OP already had to make a college decision.

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By now the OP has made his decision, but just for the record and for general interest, I’d like to note that RPI has this same kind of coursework to prepare students to obtain internships for their required Arch Program.

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Optional co-OP’s at RPI is technically correct, BUT the Arch Program at RPI with a “semester away” is a graduation requirement for all students. The Semester Away requirement can be met by an internship, a co-op, civic engagement, research, or a self-designed experience, BUT for the vast majority of students this requirement is met by an internship or co-op. The Arch program is very much part of the curriculum at RPI, including a required course reaching students the job search and acquisition skills needed to obtain the required internship, do-op, etc.