@Atlanta68 yes, re #1 above, for STEM degrees, especially engineering, someone is not much, if any, more for starting salary. Companies do not look at a BS in engineering from a top ranked school and a state flagship any differently. You may get more interviews due to the school. Is that worth $100K for maybe 10 more interviews when you graduate?
I know this for fact because I have been on both sides, being hired and hiring, new grads. I also have been in the industry for 33 years.
After the first position, what program a person got the BS from does not matter. It is only about what a person accomplished. As long as the program is accredited, that is all that matters.
The above is only for going into industry. Maybe going to Grad School is a much different situation regarding prestige. However, I, personally, do not understand an MS in engineering unless you want to be a researcher. The vast majority of engineering jobs do not require an MS engineering in any way.
An MBA with an engineering degree is a different story.