VA Tech versus NC State for Engineering

[Anonymous]

I think that NC State has better weather during the school year, plus it seems to have more flexibility in the plans of study. Perhaps that makes it better for fitting in the Honors program requirements and/or pursuing a minor (or double major). If cost and travel time are indeed similar, weather/flexibility are some things to consider along with "gut feelings."

[Anonymous]

Location? NC State wins that hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate

OP - You said NC State is ranked higher for engineering. I see Virginia Tech ranked at #13 and NC State at #30 for undergraduate engineering per US News.
Not that rankings matter much. My son went to Virginia Tech engineering and had a great experience. I don't know NC State.

I think OP may be using this US News ranking list (top engineering schools):
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings

Those are grad school rankings - not undergrad.
Here are the undergrad rankings:
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate

Am I right in reading that the undergraduate rankings are "based solely on peer assessment surveys" while the graduate rankings are based on "research activity, faculty resources, academic achievements of entering students, and assessments by other engineering schools and employers"? Sounds like we should really use the graduate rankings to compare the two schools, right?

You are reading it right. Don't based decisions on those undergraduate rankings. You should consider the graduate rankings which take other, more meaningful factors into account. Now, with that said, NC State is ranked number 25 and VA Tech is number 30. This is not a meaningful difference. Both have very good faculty and research opportunities.

Base your decision on desired location, campus vibe, clubs/ECs, honors program benefits/requirements -- and basically, whichever one your DS prefers.

[Anonymous]

RTP has more tech jobs which are outside the government sector. Metro DC has more jobs which are inside the government sector (Lockheed, Boeing, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for your suggestions. Yes, we were looking at the general engineering schools US News rankings. It's funny that it is different for the undergraduate rankings. Just more of a reason to discount the rankings.

To answer a few questions:
1) NC State is listed at 50,000 for OOS and VT is 39,000 for in-state. My DS has been awarded 7,000 in merit aid and is planning on getting another 2,000 or maybe more. So the cost for us is similar.
2) Stats from high-performing FCPS high school are 4.4 GPA, 1540 SAT, 11 APs and 2 post-APs, varsity sports, very involved ECs, some awards, volunteer, job, etc.
3) Not entirely sure, but leaning toward mechanical or electrical engineering

Don't go by total cost.. just compare tuition+fees for both to see the true difference. The other costs (boarding, lodging, books, travel, etc.) will be pretty much the same at most schools and varies based on several factors. For example, on one of the other threads I read a parent saying that their kid is spending $30K at Tech (all-in with no merit) once they got to sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Engineering professor (not at one of these universities) here. Schools are very comparable, both are the comprehensive public large engineering school in their respective states. Really the only difference is the type of town, does your kid want more of a college town experience (the town is the university) or to go to a university in a mid/large city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for your suggestions. Yes, we were looking at the general engineering schools US News rankings. It's funny that it is different for the undergraduate rankings. Just more of a reason to discount the rankings.

To answer a few questions:
1) NC State is listed at 50,000 for OOS and VT is 39,000 for in-state. My DS has been awarded 7,000 in merit aid and is planning on getting another 2,000 or maybe more. So the cost for us is similar.
2) Stats from high-performing FCPS high school are 4.4 GPA, 1540 SAT, 11 APs and 2 post-APs, varsity sports, very involved ECs, some awards, volunteer, job, etc.
3) Not entirely sure, but leaning toward mechanical or electrical engineering

Don't go by total cost.. just compare tuition+fees for both to see the true difference. The other costs (boarding, lodging, books, travel, etc.) will be pretty much the same at most schools and varies based on several factors. For example, on one of the other threads I read a parent saying that their kid is spending $30K at Tech (all-in with no merit) once they got to sophomore year.

For undergrad students in College of Engineering, the cost for tuition, housing, full meal plan, books, fees are approximately:
- $35,000 for VT (in-state)
- $47,300 for NCSU (out-of-state) -- laundry, intramural sports, 2-day orientation fees included in this price (and not included at VT)

So it looks like NCSU is about $12,000 more per year. If OP's student is getting ~$9,000 per year in merit aid, that brings it to $3,000 more per year. So I would say that OP's student should feel relatively strongly about NCSU if they want to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Location? NC State wins that hands down.

Have you been to NCSU?

I doubt it.

The campus sucks.
Engineering is 20 min off main campus.
Football is off campus
Hillsboro St is disgusting.

[Anonymous]

NCSU is not for OP's kid, especially in today's climate.

VT has it's issues with minorities and hate NCSU is exponentially worse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCSU is not for OP's kid, especially in today's climate.

VT has it's issues with minorities and hate NCSU is exponentially worse

Can you elaborate? We know a ton of Indian kids there and everyone seems happy. Haven't heard of any issues.

[Anonymous]

NCSU: 8.11% Asian, 7.01% Hispanic, 6.17% Black (Fall 2022)
VT: 11.8% Asian, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% Black (Fall 2022)

Seems pretty similar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCSU is not for OP's kid, especially in today's climate.

VT has it's issues with minorities and hate NCSU is exponentially worse

What are the issues at NCSU with minorities and hate? Do you have any personal knowledge or anecdotes to share?

[Anonymous]

NC State has super-helpful admin, esp for OOS students. Alumni network not as strong.

VT has amazing alumni who love to mentor and hire graduates. Admin will not bend over backward to help anyone, and if you get accused of something it's guilty until proven innocent.

Is the NCSU merit aid based on GPA, because you wouldn't want to risk something going off the rails and then you're stuck with full tuition. Happens a lot based on the parents' FB page I am on.

[Anonymous]

Outdoors: VT>NCSU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location? NC State wins that hands down.

Have you been to NCSU?

I doubt it.

The campus sucks.
Engineering is 20 min off main campus.
Football is off campus
Hillsboro St is disgusting.

Is Hillsboro street the street with all the restaurants, Target, etc.?