@UA2009, this topic comes up periodically here. We’ve done a lot of speculating, with no real conclusions, but the two theories that many of us seem to agree on are:
- Auburn alumni in engineering fields are pushing their alma mater to their neighbors and co-workers. Since UA didn't traditionally have as strong an engineering program, there just aren't as many of them in the AL workforce. That will likely change as UA Engineering grows in size and stature.
- The huge influx of out-of-state students, many of whom are from the North and West, may have made UA less appealing to those who would prefer a more traditional (and conservative) Southern experience.
I’ll be curious to hear what you uncover as well. A couple of threads you might find of interest:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1859259-2014-15-college-of-engineering-admissions-stats-p1.html (The discussion about in-state students choosing AU over UA begins around post #41.)