If the school matters to an employer, they are not going to hire someone from JMU or Pitt. For most employers, engineers are assumed to be competent because engineering programs are very rigorous (failing out large percentage of students) and have to comply with professional requirements.

Anonymous wrote:Whats the financial impact? Im from PA and would say Pitt but not at full price vs in state JMU. I will be honest, no one outside of VA has heard of JMU and they HAVE heard of Pitt, but that all vanishes after job 1.

Do you have any idea just how many OOS students are at JMU? Plenty of people outside of VA have heard of it.

It’s a lot more money to go to Pitt out of state. Just trying to figure out the value and if it will result in greater job opportunities.

Whats the financial impact? Im from PA and would say Pitt but not at full price vs in state JMU. I will be honest, no one outside of VA has heard of JMU and they HAVE heard of Pitt, but that all vanishes after job 1.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1034089.page

Already a thread about this. Do a search.

If your in VA, JMU.

This has been discussed at length. Pitt has a comprehensive school of engineering with many different majors and is a research institution granting PhD’s. Pitt.

Anonymous wrote:JMU is obviously a lot cheaper. I am just not sure if Pitt is worth all the money. We don't know as much about it except the Engineering school is established and stronger than JMU.

Perhaps OP has merit from Pitt?

USPTO for engineers

Engineering is stronger at Pitt, but maybe not worth the extra money.

JMU is obviously a lot cheaper. I am just not sure if Pitt is worth all the money. We don't know as much about it except the Engineering school is established and stronger than JMU.

Which ever is cheaper or you can afford to fully pay graduate school for.

Choose JMU only if cost is the major concern.

We have narrowed our decision to these 2 schools. Our daughter lives in NOVA and likes JMU but is concerned it's program is not as established and well-known compared to Pitt. I know Pitt has a bigger department and has a strong reputation in this area. If she selects JMU, she is unsure of what her job prospects would be in the DC metro area with a general engineering degree.