We have a similar conundrum. Son accepted to UIUC Civil Eng, #2 in nation right now, our instate flagship, and $66K cheaper over four years than UW-Madison. I’d much rather give the extra funds to my son than give it to UW-Madison, and told him it would be his graduation present. Add to that the employment statistics showing UIUC grads in Civil are offered 20% more in salary than UW-Madison grads, it is hard to choose UW. Also, instate tuition will be frozen for our son at current rates for all four years, even campus housing rates.
One of the respondents in the links above had this to say, as he/she had been accepted to both:
"I’m a Minnesota resident, and I was accepted to both UW-Madison and UIUC.
It was between UW, UIUC, and U of Washington.
I was originally going to go to UIUC, because I had been postponed by Madison and had not yet been accepted into the university of washington.
I visited UIUC while I was still waiting to hear from UW, and I was nothing less than impressed. I was planning on going there. Then, WHILE I was in Champaign-Urbana, I checked my status and found out that I got into Washington. Then I was all excited about that and UIUC didn’t seem so nice anymore.
We never got out to Seattle to visit, and the letter from UW came about a month later saying that I was in. Finances would not have been a problem, but I did choose UW because of the price. And I wish I chose UIUC."
Your student is lucky to have such a desirable school an option at in-state rates, however uncertain the future. My son absolutely loved Madison, so this is a tough decision for him. Are youa ware that there is an accepted student event on April 22? A visit that day might help sway his decision. My son wanted to commit that day.