<p>
Yes, it certainly would, if you attended a graduate school in a different region or with a national reputation. Generally, the last school you attend is the most important one when job hunting. And if you attend Stevens and do well there, you will be well-positioned when applying to graduate school, since it has a lot of undergrad research opportunities.</p>
<p>How confident are you that you will stay in engineering, and not switch to another major? Cornell has strong programs across the board, while Stevens is more limited to tech fields. </p>
<p>If your family can afford Cornell, that is where I would lean. Cornell has a very strong engineering reputation, plus lots of other very strong programs. If you think you would move to another region of the country, I think you’ll find that a Cornell degree is much more portable than a Stevens one.</p>
<p>Good luck on making your decision - not a lot of time left to decide.</p>