Undergrad - UTSA vs. LSU

College Search & Lists
1

My son is majoring in chemical engineering and he got accepted to LSU, UTSA, University of Houston & Prairie View. He wanted to go to UT Austin but did not get accepted and they told him that he can go to their CAP Program. When we tried to sign up the program is already full. Now he really wants to go to UTSA but we feel like that it’s an ok school. We live in Texas and if he go to LSU we have to pay out of state tuition fee. We are debating if we should let him go to LSU or UTSA. We are more leaning to LSU.

2

US News W/R has LSU with a higher ranked engineering program, links below. The question is whether the additional expense is worth the prestige of the ranking. If your son is planning on living and working in Texas post-graduation I’d say it would be hard to justify the expense. UTSA is a fine option.

But if he is planning on living in Oregon, for instance, where fewer people have heard of UTSA then it might be worth the additional expense. There may be more variables that affect your decision, but I wouldn’t automatically discount UTSA. Especially given the painful expense of a college education.

UTSA

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/utsa-10115

LSU

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/lsu-baton-rouge-2010

3

I actually went to UTSA. It’s a very underrated school especially in chemical and biomedical engineering. They just started construction on a new science/engineering building just this year to expand their engineering programs. Also, Roadrunner football spirit is huge! Basketball could use some work. A lot of UT Rejects end up at UTSA on a bridge program to gain acceptance. A lot, if not most, fall in love with UTSA and end up staying.

4

Does UTSA have Chemical? It is not showing up as an ABET accredited program. I know Houston and Prairie View are ABET accredited. I’d have my son go to one of those before I’d pay out of state rates for LSU. Rankings do not really make a difference. Did you look at AR? Border state kids with decent grades and scores can get almost instate tuition there. My son is 2nd year Chem E at AR and is getting a great education. We are from Texas too.