you’re right about the housing. i was just going by the COA listed on UA’s website. i didn’t realize they list the pricier options there. but when i checked individual housing + meal plans, i found cheaper R&B options less than $10K for UA. so with $2500 Engr scholarship knocking that down to about $7500, that’s a point in UA’s favor.
after double-checking i realize that UU’s NPC number included the Pell grant, while UA’s estimated $7500-$8000 yearly cost did not include Pell. that drives UA’s COA much lower.
3.0 vs 3.6 is another big big point in UA’s favor
regarding LDS at UU, i’ve heard it’s anywhere from 35% - 45%.
UA would be much closer, would still let him get away from NC (i don’t know where this anti-NC thing is coming from but whatever) and i think he would like going to a school with lots of students from all over the country, since UA has such a high OOS population.
i have heard about UA’s massive expansion of the Engineering dept and facilities recently and i was expecting them to rise in the rankings. i am starting to think the USNWR rankings are like the AP preseason college football poll – mostly a popularity contest based on name recognition.
thanks for the extremely helpful feedback everybody.