UCF vs TAMU [computer] Engineering [international student]

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Hi everyone! I’ve been accepted to both UCF and TAMU for engineering and am having a hard time picking between them. I need to pick asap because they both have limited on-campus housing that will fill up soon. I’m an international student and will require on-campus housing.

In terms of rankings, TAMU is much better- #51 overall and #16 for engineering. UCF is much lower at #121 overall and #80 for engineering.
UCF’s tuition is 20k. TAMU’s tuition will be around 22k for my first year, and then rise to 40k for the other 3. (I’ve been admitted to TEAB)
TAMU has a massive alumni network and reputation that will help in finding opportunities, but UCF has great industry connections and Orlando provides good networking opportunities as well.
At TAMU, I will have to go through the ETAM process and risk not getting the major of my choice (Computer Engineering), but at UCF I will get direct admission to CompE.
I have a relative living around 2 hours away from UCF, so my parents will feel more comfortable with the location.
I’ve grown up in a big city and really like Orlando. But I don’t think I’ll have too much of a problem with College Station as well.

My main problem right now is the cost. I don’t know if TAMU is worth the extra 60k overall. If I go to UCF, my parents will pay tuition for all 4 years. If I go to TAMU, we might have to take a loan.

I’ve been going back and forth constantly and I’d appreciate any advice anyone has.

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You are going home after most likely.

You like Orlando - UCF is not in the downtown but close enough.

College Station is like a suburb - not horribly far from Houston and Austin but not close.

It’s likely for US students - many students will place in the same sort of job. Rankings are to sell magazines - not reflective of real life.

Given you want a specific major and you need lower cost, I’m not sure how UCF doesn’t work for you in this case.

btw - both are two of the biggest schools in the country - but campus/land wise A&M is much bigger I believe where UCF is more compact.

Good luck.

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S24 was accepted to TAMU ENG. We did a tour there. School is big, modern and clean. But College Station is located 1 hour driving distance from Houston, not close to any major airport. S24 also has the same concern with ETAM. Since Comp Eng is very popular, you are pretty much having to get 3.75 GPA to get in. Good Luck.

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Computer engineering is one of the more competitive majors in TAMU ETAM, so you should expect to need a 3.75 college GPA (the automatic admission threshold in TAMU ETAM) to get into that major (or computer science).

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You can fly from Dallas into Bryan/College Station on American. So likely an easy connection for International but airline limiting.

From College Station to downtown Houston is 1 hour 40. It’s an hour-ish from the tippy suburbs. And to Austin 2 hours.

Done both drives many times.

And unfortunately flew in once (I’m a Southwest guy - not a fan of AA).

Thanks

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I don’t plan on staying but internships and research will be important. Guess I was just worried about those. Thank you for the response.

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Most every school has research. That’s a falsity that only higher ranked schools have it.

Btw do you know how US News ranks?

Not exactly scientific - using no real data.

It’s likely hard for international students to get an internship. Companies aren’t going to want to sponsor you.

Good luck.

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs rankings are based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty at peer institutions who participated in a peer assessment survey.