UIUC Aerospace vs. Stony Brook University Mechanical?

xraymancs
Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:34:02 +0000

Personally, I would recommend the lower cost option. That is about $100k difference over 4 years and if UIUC is a stretch for your family then it is naive to think that the eventual strain won’t have an influence on your son’s performance. I read a lot of posts on this forum about students who are concerned about the family finances and sacrifices being made.

As you can read from other knowledgeable posters on this forum, your son can get into the Aerospace field without a specific degree in the subject. Mechanical Engineering also gives a broader range of opportunities for employment.

SUNY is a large public university just like UIUC and their undergraduate engineering programs are all ABET accredited. Since your son is interested in research then there would be plenty of opportunities at both schools and if that is his path, he can get into selective graduate programs with a degree from either place.

Ultimately, it is a family decision not just your son’s and you need to decide whether the extra cost is worth it.