Rensselaer has among the highest SAT scores in the country (36th overall). This should not be overlooked as an indicator of quality. Troy works if she can be satisfied with gritty over gentrified. Personally, I see appeal in the former. Relatively close to Troy are Albany’s State Street, Saratoga Springs, the Adirondacks and the Berkshires, all of which have distinct appeal.
Rose Hulman appears to have an amazing mechanical engineering department.