UC DAVIS Vs Purdue for Computer Science Major

Are you a California resident?

I wouldn’t think the exorbitant OOS cost for UC Davis would be worth it over Purdue, since Purdue’s reputation for CS is at least equal.

If you’re in-state for Davis, then the question is whether Purdue has particular strengths or fit-factors that justify the additional costs and travel logistics.

Overall I would think that the differences in terms of future opportunity, among students at these two schools, would be determined more by the individual strengths and pursuits of the student than by which school they attended. Neither school will limit you in any way.

Are we talking about transfer admissions, or about coming off waitlist for first-year? Whichever it is, look also at how smoothly things will articulate (either lower-division classes or AP/IB/DE classes). Neither school is worth extra time to graduation, if you could graduate on time at the other, so check the roadmap for your program and compare what you’d be taking and how past coursework would count.