No. Save the money, got to Pitt, then go for the more prestigious MBA, if desired.
Pitt has a great reputation and everything he needs for undergrad.
I assume you are in the eastern part of the state calling it UPitt? 
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The undergraduate program at Pitt is the College of Business Administration. Katz refers only to the graduate business programs.
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OP: Which school do you think would be best if your son switches majors ?
With respect to Big 4 locations: Experience may vary, but Big 4 NYC was easiest interview as many do not want to deal with the high cost of living in NYC on a newly minted accountantās salary.
Accounting firms differ regarding hiring locations as some hire nationally, while others do so regionally. Moreover, specialty groups within an accounting firm may be hiring for one specific location.
Actually when my S interviewed NYC offers were not so easy to get. He wanted NYC and ended up with two offers in NYC offices (he took one of those) and two firms shifted him and offered him for their CT office. Lots of young professionals still want to be in NYC and find a way to make the finances work.
The Big 4 hire nationally.
Anywayā¦this is off topic. When the time comes I recommend that the OPs son be honest about his preferred office. If necessary, the firm will shift the office to facilitate an offer.
Yes, I mentioned in a reply on this post that the Pitt accounting students I know where hired in Pittsburgh. Others may have been hired to other areas, but the ones I know are from Western Pennsylvania and preferred to stay close ā both for family, and likely because of the COL issue that @Publisher mentions.
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This is indeed true with folks I know hired in Pittsburgh as well. The big accounting firms definitely recruit from both Pitt and Duquesne (my alma mater and 91ā BSBA)
Maybe it depends upon whether one is applying for audit/assurance positions (lots of need everywhere) or for more specialized positions. Another thread lists Big 4 employers recruiting on-campus at Pamplin business school at Virginia Tech. The employer list at the Va tech job fair specifically notes for which office the Big 4 firms were/are recruiting; two also stated ānationalā, but the other two specified only regional offices.
Most accounting majors pursue the audit or tax route directly of college to get the work experience required to become a CPA. But IF office placement is an area of concern, the OPās S should contact career placement at colleges of interest to ask about the recruiting history of the Big 4 at the school.
My son isnāt thinking that far ahead in terms of placement in a particular city after graduation. Heās just keen on getting the best education which he strongly believes is Kelley but as a parent Iām thinking practically from a cost 
and proximity perspective (Smeal or Pitt).
Most likely heās tying that to rank.
I went to arguably the top communications school in the country back in my day - and the education was crap.
In grad school, my roommateās best friend was a Wharton. He had, according to him, little rigor and was to focus on finding a job whereas we worked our tails off at #40.
My daughter chose #16 or 17 she got into - and by all accounts is getting a fantastic education (sans one prof).
Itās hard for kids to realize that - but it sounds like heās buying into the magazine hype.
I have no doubt that IU Kelley is fantastic - but that doesnāt mean Pitt and Smeal donāt provide as good an educationā¦I suppose thereās no true way to know unless someone has gone to all three!!
I imagine - no matter which door you open, 1, 2 or 3, all doors lead to victory.
Best of luck to your student.
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Yes, thanks! heās tying it to rank and the hype, listening to his friends who think that their own state schools arenāt as good as other state schools and he doesnāt want to go to Penn State because his older brother went there (and graduated from Schreyerās and landed his dream job at GE Aerospace) 
Yeah, landing in a great job is a HORRIBLE thing
OK - if not Penn State, then Pitt or IU.
If you can afford both and he truly loves IU (a lovely campus), then great.
Obviously Pitt is smaller in all facets and has a different environment.
I donāt think IU or Pitt have a dairyā¦fresh ice creamā¦WE ARE PENN STATE !!
In the end, budget up to you, but then the student should decide.
He, not his school, will set his trajectory - including a job like your other sons.
Have funā¦
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He understands the financial ramifications since Iām willing to cover him for Smeal/Pitt from where he can graduate debt-free or he has to cough up the difference after he starts working, and he is currently leaning towards Kelley and thinks that it can land him a job that will pay way higher than Smeal/Pitt that he can cover the difference in a few years.
in what field? Most jobs pay by role/location - so it depends, etc.
Easy to spend momās money at 17.
Iād show him articles of people in debt and how it impacted them - including doctors and you can even find stuff on the CC.
Debt in general is not a good thing. Sure there are differing amounts - but it takes away your ability to choose.
The other thing 17 year olds donāt realize is there are several, more than several years of graduates that canāt find jobs. These kids only know a booming economy. But itās far from assured - then what?
All real possibilities. Hopefully not but you never knowā¦
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I have made him aware of all those things, so heās making an informed decision. My older son chose to graduate debt-free from PSU and is truly grateful to us for that. Heās advising his younger brother about that but when you are 18 whoās listening.
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If your S is to repay the difference you should discuss a sample payment schedule so the potentoal debt starts to feel real. If he needs to repay in the neighborhood of $60k (after tax dollars) for Kelley it could stand in the way of enjoying his early working years ā he may not have money to take nice vacations, buy a new car, etc.
FWIW if he does become CPA at a Big 4 firm, the pay will be essentially the same regardless of which school he graduates from.
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Yes, Iāve already worked out a repayment schedule of $500/month for 10 years totaling $60k (of course, he wants it interest-free ) and heās ok with that. He does want to become a CPA at one of the Big 4, but somehow thinks that heās going to get paid more than the Smeal/Pitt grads just because heās from Kelley (ranked #4 for Accounting) 
Wow, can I bank interest free too at your bank?
Iād love to borrow $60K from you!!!
Iām going to make him take out loans so that he feels the pinch.
Honestly, if you have the dough, better to loanā¦the fees etc. take away so much.
Any which way he goes best of luck.