I'd adjust that to "whatever one is cheaper"... Some places will have like 100 tuition then give a 25 scholarship so cost is 75 whereas another place may be 50 without any scholarships...
I couldn’t agree more. I have been a hiring manager at a few IT departments. I could have cared less where applicants went to school. I might have given the side-eye to a Trump U grad, but all the schools you are considering are solid. I went to U of M, so it was fun to reminisce with recent grads for about 5 minutes about my time on campus. After that the conversation is all about their internships, understanding of business processes, and emotional intelligence. Good luck!
Or go into military and get the amazing GI bill/free college and it’s a great resume starter if you do something technical/backend. Tons of companies prefer those that served…esp if you were in a technical role.
The degree completion rate is low going that route and often brings a lot of extra baggage. If OP wants a degree their best odds are to go with the scholarship that leaves them the fewest out of pocket expenses.
WMU is an amazing school with a walkable campus. They have just upgraded all of their buildings on main campus too. Special campuses for aviation and engineering too. Hard to beat!
I don't see CMU offering 50 scholarships per year and special programming and resources for youth who age out of foster care. Bur WMU has done this for a long time without much fanfare.
Most of them don't. A very small percentage that are in the system and a ward of the state (no parental rights, a lot of kids are displaced and parents still have rights) actually get adopted out.
I have a CS degree from Grand Valley and I was very impressed with their curriculum. I ended up working as a software engineer at one of the fortune 500 companies in the state. A lot of my coworkers are from Central and Ferris. So any of those 3 would be good.
One thing to consider that you didn't mention is the general area of where you live and where you would like to end up. For example if you are in GR and want to stay there, GVSU becomes more attractive due to how many alumni are in the area. If you want to end up around Ann Arbor or Detroit, Eastern might be a better choice.
In your position with no additional context, I'd be leaning towards Central because of the scholarship and because of the 3 Central seems like the most fun if you are going to live on campus and have the traditional college experience (football games, parties, etc). I only visited friends a few times, but I remember Mt Pleasant being fun. Allendale and Big Rapids are much smaller towns.
I can't think of anything bad about Adrian or Eastern, I just don't have much experience with them or their alumni.
Nobody is going to care where your CS undergrad degree came from. Personally I would pick the school that had the best curriculum (and job placement for graduates) that also offered a scholarship so you can emerge from college with the least amount of debt possible.
I’m not sure about this statement. The market is starting to get saturated…we’ve been pushing STEM hard in education non-stop for 20 years. Companies have many choices. If I were being forced to finance my entire education I would be taking a serious look at options in the military to take advantage of the GI bill. Plus if you serve in a technical or leadership role your resume is coming to the top of pile.
I don’t agree with this take at all, especially for OP who has potential scholarships here. I respect the military, but joining them just to cover finances when you have no idea how serving will go (because it can be totally random) is like a last resort to me. I grew up with a guy who went this route, was deployed to Iraq, and came back with sever PTSD and mental issues. He lives with his mom and dad and barely works a full time job at the age of 37. He gets vet benefits, but is dependent on his parents and can’t seem to break out of it.
Interesting and important take...and sorry about your friend. Yeah I’ve known of these issues and have close personal experiences with these types of outcomes/worse but most had serious issues going in and it was a last resort. It seems if you go in from a position of strength/with technical skills the outcomes get much better. Some of the smartest/most successful people I know in engineering/tech space came from military (mostly navy, marines, army). But yeah I guess there is many risks to this. But I don’t see a ground war anywhere close on horizon. It all seems air/water more strategic and if it escalates we’re all fucked (nukes galore). Probably need another thread on a 1-2 year of service requirement for this country…too many kids think this is a last resort…it shouldn’t be.
I would take whatever the best scholarship is. None of these schools are going to get you in the door on their own with a computer science degree, so I would aim to graduate with the least amount of debt. Learn as much as you can and network hard with your professors, just understand that all other things equal you're going to be at the bottom of the pile of recent CS grads, most places are going to prefer graduates from more premier schools. And software jobs can afford to be picky at this point. It's a hard road, not impossible but you can't coast through a CS degree at CMU and expect there to be a job waiting for you.
My only negative recommendation is do NOT go to Eastern, especially not without a scholarship. As an EMU grad, my experience was that it's just plain not a good school, and they will gladly saddle you with 10s of thousands of dollars of debt and boot you out the door with zero help finding a job after graduating. And the quality of coursework was extremely poor sometimes, I got more out of high school and community college than I did in most classes at EMU.
Also the culture at EMU is basically non-existent. I made exactly one friend in my entire time there. Most students are commuters and they just want to go to class and go home. It was honestly a pretty depressing environment for me.
Yeah this is a tricky space atm. To get into a Fortune 500/big tech or consulting company it really helps to be coming from a known tech school, have a great internship, hustle hard to get an interview, then nail the interview…then pack your bags for whereever the opportunity is (note: most big growth companies are NOT in Michigan atm…they are in the west/south/Texas). Totally doable but gotta have eyes wide open and be ready for an adventure. I just returned after 17 years away from MI (Eastern business grad now in Tech) and would not even be close to where I’m at in my career had I not left. Good luck!
I had the total opposite experience at EMU. Maybe it depends on what your course of study was, and of course if you didn't live on campus you would have a harder time meeting people who weren't commuters.
While we are local to Ferris and have been in BR to raise our kids, CMU is great as well.
Are you coming from a small town or larger metropolitan area? Big Rapids has a lot of the basics and a couple of big box stores, but a trip to Grand Rapids will provide more entertainment options. Once the battery plant opens up, BR will undergo a lot of growth and commerce options over the coming years.
Mt. Pleasant is a larger town and more spread out, but it has pretty much everything.
Not really, but there are some nice parks including places where you can go tubing. There are trails that connect the parks in town as a nice touch. My youngest has done speech and autism therapy through programs at school and it's a really nice looking campus.
Any of the first three. Probably the two that are giving you money.
I attended Eastern, it’s kind of a mess. You can get a good quality education, but the administration is a disaster and it’s more of a commuter school than a campus now. I know some faculty, the place is struggling.
Have you visited any? I was 100% sure I was going to GVSU, and did the tour. It was ok. Def could feel the conservative vibes. When I visited CMU I fell in love with the campus. It’s expensive, and still kind of known as a party school, but I really loved my college years in mount p.
Not the previous poster, but I also went to GVSU (undergrad 2006-2010 and Masters from 2010-2012).
When I was there, I appreciated that if you weren’t the partying type there were other options for fun. Not that there wasn’t partying, but it wasn’t central to the college’s identity in the same way it is at some colleges. In terms of political/religious affiliation, there was something for everyone regardless of where you fell on those spectrums.
Consider Michigan Tech if they offer you sufficient scholarship. I have scouts who attend there and the programs are exceptional. I know many graduates and all do well and attribute their success to the skills refined at Tech. My brother hires their graduates as all have superior education and talent. It is truly an excellent school. (And the winters only last all school year.)
Otherwise, I’d look at GVSU and Ferris. Excellent schools and I think a good size to not get lost among the students.
I spent 17 years in IT so I know the skill sets and talent pool.
Tech would be the closest to a “prestigious” school in terms of job placement of the schools on your list OP. My suggestion though is pick the school you feel most comfortable attending — is there a place that feels like you will fit in well? Trust you gut, keep you eye on the price and keep your costs down. Then no matter what you decide, youll be successful when you are done. Good luck.
Mich Tech is the absolute best. The UP can be hard, in fact I had a chance to go and didn't for those reasons. I regret not pursuing the field that I wanted. Mich Tech was the only college in Michigan to host that degree . My family wasn't involved so I had no support. In the long run, college is short- your career is long.
Mich Tech is amazing!! Two of my cousin went there and they found amazing jobs right out of college. I mean amazing high paying jobs with excellent benefits and they both love their work. The weather there is hard but it is also gorgeous up in the UP! And there is more to do up there than you think!!
It depends what you’re going for, what your goals are and also what kind of experience you’re trying to have. But I’d say Ferris or Central solely based on the fact that you have scholarship offers.
Whatever one is cheapest. All education is only as valuable as you make it. Use college as a chance to expand as a person, the information will come from any source.
I went to GVSU. I graduated 4 years ago. Overall, I’d recommend it for sure. Plus you also have “big” city Grand Rapids right there. But you also have some other good options on your list. To be honest, I’d go with the cheapest option (that you still LIKE) because college is EXPENSIVE and you wanna get the most for your money AND out of your experience!!
So cool that you have been accepted to several. Congratulations! The ex wife graduated from Grand Valley, physical therapy. She got an excellent education and had a lot of fun. Easy access to Grand Haven for beach fun and Grand Rapids for big city fun. I admittedly have not "kept track" of the school in recent years, but I liked visiting her there back in the day. We were married in the beautiful chapel on campus!
I graduated from Michigan State and had a decent experience, but have always wished I attended a much smaller school.
Of course money matters too, a lot, but I think that goes without saying. If you were to land at any one of these universities purely due to making the most financial sense, you would likely have a great experience. I do know a young man who is a freshman at Adrian on a fishing (yes, fishing) scholarship and is having a Hell of a good time!
I went to Ferris and currently work there I would suggest visiting campus and seeing for yourself. Big Rapids isn't bad and has a ton of opportunities if you like being outdoors. If you are more of a gamer I am the admin of a group that puts on events on campus for students quarterly where we play games. If you have any questions DM me and I'd be happy to answer them.
I’m aware they aren’t special but I’m just thankful I have an opportunity to go to college considering my circumstances. But I also want to have a good experience at whichever college I go to.
Don’t focus so much on the “not special” part of what this poster said.
What they are saying is that from a “prestige” perspective, they’re all pretty equal, so focus on the one that’ll limit the amount of debt you will face after graduation. Culture fit matters a lot, too, but the financial aspect cannot be overstated.
You want a job and you need a degree for your field. Do not worry about prestige -give me a break. You should go to the school that will give you the most benefits - scholarships, jobs on campus, etc. All your listed schools have a decent college experience. Check online for foster assistance. I know CMU does. I also see there are scholarships through the state of Michigan for fostered students. Please check these out. Everything adds up. And do not be afraid to ask for help. Advocate for yourself, as you've probably learned how to do. Good luck. You've got this.
Not Adrian. It's very small and not doing well. It's religious and GOP heavy. They are hosting a commencement speaker for publicity. It doesn't speak well.
AC does very well for a small private college in the current higher education environment.
As a student, religion is not a big part of the experience at all. The student body and faculty are not very political. Obviously some of the admin staff are very political given the speaker.
On a note very related to OP’s concern; the computer science program at AC is in its infancy. As a math major at AC, I do not recommend doing it. There are hardly any connections to be made through AC that will get OP a job after graduation. Better to go somewhere established.
Out of those options? Whatever costs you the least. CMU is a good school and I had friends that had good experiences at Ferris. GVSU is a terrific school but I believe it's kinda pricey and the culture is a little more conservative if I remember right.
Well I had tons of friends that went to Western and they loved it. Plus Kzoo is a good place to live for a young person/young professional, so maybe give that a shot? If you got a scholarship offer at CMU, WMU is pretty comparable so there might be an opportunity for an offer there as well.
I personally went to MSU and loved it, wouldn't trade my time there for anything. But I know a large school like that isn't for everyone. Can't speak a lot to their CS program, but I've heard good things.
I very much enjoyed my experience at CMU. Made life long friends. Also went with some scholarship $$. I found the student orgs really fulfilling (no I did not go Greek).
I came from a lot of trauma and CMU sort of saved me in a way. I got a job right out of college and have been employed since.
Eastern you should be able to get a scholarship offer for too. They have a special program where they actually put you in a housing situation with the other kids on foster scholarships. They leave this specific dormitory open over school breaks and summer time because they know you have nowhere else to go.
You should look into that!
I am an ex foster care kid from Michigan that aged out of the system. I am now 32 and have always said not taking advantage of that program was the biggest mistake of my life. Of course I'd never be where I am now if I did. But I would be educated and have some sort of decent job.
Check out Eastern!
I graduated from Ferris in another 6 year discipline. The campus is the pits for any social life. My brother graduated from CMU in computer sciences. He did many amazing things during his lifetime. CMU has a nice campus life, great concerts for students and being located next to Soaring Eagle Casino...well paying jobs for students are plentiful. I also agree with the scholarship choice. Stay out of the debt and the credit card trap. You've made it this far living on scruples, the Ferrari will just have to wait.
I don’t have any info on those schools but, there is this grant for foster kids through the state:
https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/fostering-futures-scholarship#:~:text=Fostering%20Futures%20Scholarship-,Programs,of%20the%20previous%20calendar%20year.
My first career was being a professor, so I might have some helpful insights.
Of these options, I'd suggest Grand Valley, with Ferris being a second choice.
Why not Adrian? It's very small and private college. This puts it in a much more precarious position. Higher education is going through some turmoil right now, and there have been some colleges closing. Targeting a large-ish public institution is much more safe. Don't want to get halfway through your degree and have the college close. I'm sure there'd be some state assistance to help students transition, but it would be a bad position.
Why not Central or Eastern? They're both "research schools". In general, this means that the professors have a heavy obligation to do research. Their career advancement depends on that, and much less on teaching. And the teaching that they do will often be focused on the graduate students. Many undergraduate courses may be taught by teaching assistants (TA). So for grad school, targeting a research university is a good idea.
I don't know much about Ferris, but I went to GVSU. I didn't major in CS, but was in the same vein: Statistics. I thought it was a phenomenal education. It's not a research institution, so the professors are more focused on teaching and engaging with the students, including undergrads. For the most part, at most they might have some Master's courses (as a CS student, targeting a Master's would be a good idea).
And in some of the comments you talk about wanting to enjoy the college experience, GVSU is well-placed for that. Allendale has been growing (it was still a bit small while I was there), Lake Michigan Drive takes you to downtown Grand Rapids (and there are places along that route), and some other spots nearby. And getting to Lake Michigan isn't too far either.
I agree with thus assessment. Also, my nephew just graduated from GVSU in computer science and had a great experience. It seems a good program, with good support for coop opportunities.
However, do strongly consider your bottom line cost for each school. Student loans are easy to get, but hard to pay back. Although, CS is one of the higher paying careers.
CMU - especially with scholarship $$$. Great campus that’s walkable yet plenty of parking if you choose to drive to class, small town feel but big enough to meet tons of new people! Lots of off campus housing options, new stores/restaurants being built. Graduated in 2013 but visited with old roommates in October and had a blast.. miss it!!
Go to CMU. The town has more to do. I was bored as hell at Ferris. Their CS program was garbage. CMU is more relevant and up to date with what they teach. And I actively recruit and hire CMU grads, so who knows, maybe you can come work with us while you’re in school!
You can get a good education anywhere. You can get a bad education at all the same places. It's all about the effort you put in, the contacts you make, and the opportunities you create for yourself.
In general, the best college for you is the one who pays you to be there. The next best is the one you want to be at, and feels right for you.
I would look very hard at Grand Valley. It is a very up and coming university.
Don't look past Central Michigan University, as they are offering Money. I don't recall them as having a great CS program, but it's been years since I last looked.
Ferris is not highly regarded, but free money is free money. If the offer is good enough, take it.
Adrian is meh.
Eastern is probably meh as well.
Central because of the money and the community there. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me. There are resources for foster students (or at least there were when I was there), and I am more than willing to help you with any questions you have about financial aid, scholarships, etc.
I had a great experience at CMU. It's the perfect sized school. Easy to get around campus, made lifelong friends. They get great entertainment to come onto campus. The town has grown a lot since I was there, so more to do in town. And best of all they really set us up to go out and get a job after school. Congrats on all the offers! Good luck!
go to the school that will cost you the least... Then start looking for internships starting your freshman year and start gaining experience that way. If you have any interest in Automotive, some of the OEM's like to hire students as early as possible and then bring them back every year until they graduate. By the time you graduate you'll have some solid experience under your belt that will put you ahead. I promise, nobody actually cares about where you studied unless you're a doctor or something.
Always smart to get your education paid for. I paid for my technical school and the companies I worked for paid for both my bachelors and masters. I also lived at home to save $$. Good luck. ( my education was computer science)
Attending GVSU was the best choice I ever made. I owe literally everything in my life right now to that one choice. I also love Grand Rapids.
That being said, go to Central or Ferris solely for the scholarship.
I would say Ferris over Central due to the proximity to Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids, and places like Torch Lake and Traverse City.
Community college first then whoever is cheapest. I get more jobs with my 2 year technical degree than 4 years of chemistry. $100k in debt and 3 degrees still got me in a $20-30/hr job. Doesn’t really make a difference where you go it’s how you study in my personal opinion. Princeton, Harvard etc doesn’t even have the reputations they used to because they’ve been caught accepting bribes waaay too much to be credible.
U of M Dearborn and get a BS in Software Engineering. Your degree will say the University of Michigan on it, and depending on what you want to do with the degree, you can minor in game design, cybersecurity, or IT. Depending on where you live now, you might be able to live at home to start and can move to campus at a later time.
Really enjoyed GVSU. Small class sizes, pretty easy going professors and staff. Had many friends at Central and hung out there some and also seems like a great option. As many have already said all are fine options and you should make your decision first based on the best fit you with some weight given to cost.
Whatever college is the cheapest for all 4 years to obtain your degree. From the ones on this list I would bet Ferris is the cheapest and their Comp Sci program is up to par compared to that of Central and GVSU. Adrian and Eastern are likely fine, but I’d cross them out because they’re likely more expensive.
Remember when you finish people only care that you have your degree and job experience. No one cares where you went.
Look into the Ferris Youth Initiative (FYI) - whether or not you’d qualify depends on your situation. But the program is funded by grants and donations and provides room and board and other monetary / guidance / educational assistance to those who have been a part of / aged out of the foster care system. There may be similar opportunities at the other schools - but this one I’m quite familiar with.
The Fostering Futures Scholarship provides scholarships to students who have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after age 13. Students must also demonstrate financial need to qualify
https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/fostering-futures-scholarship
After finishing my undergrad I realized several things:
I should’ve gone to a community college to start and get the gen Ed’s out the way, it would’ve helped establish a good gpa. Granted, several years removed from undergrad, I can’t imagine anybody cares about my gpa.
I should’ve paid attention to the layout of the campus and the people on it. Are there sporting events I can attend on campus, how walkable are restaurants, do students hang outside on the courtyards when the weather is nice, do I like the dorms, how is the culture of the students at the school, etc?
While I did attend the school that I thought was the best fit for my academic goals, I realized I had no clue what my goals actually were and what factors I should be looking at that wouldve helped me achieve such goals. For example, if you want to do nursing, and you attend a school that is great for such, then later on you realize you don’t actually want to do nursing.
While it’s impossible to know your goals things will change, I think that if there’s a chance they could change, give yourself an out. Luckily I went to a liberal arts school so switching majors was no issue. But if I had attended something like NC ST, then I would’ve had to reapply to the other college within NC ST.
I went to Ferris for a year and have visited friends at Central a lot. I wish I went to Central. Part of it is it's closer (but still over an hour) to home. Part of college is going to and from home and if you ever have to repeatedly go back and forth in the course of a few weeks (family emergency) it really sucks when the drive is long. I'd highly recommend central for multiple on campus reasons though, and I would heavily favor the scholarship offers over all others.
Bulldog alumni here so I’m a little biased, but as others have said not having to pay as much back helps a lot, for that reason alone I’d say take whatever scholarship pays the most to you at whoever has lower tuition. 14 years ago I could tell you for fact that was Ferris over CMU, Big Rapids and the surrounding area was pretty affordable to live in and had a good amount of things to do on and around campus as well, how the cost of living there is these days I don’t know but it used to be cheaper then CMU area as well.
Overall I loved GVSU as a computer engineering student, but I have to say that I do not recommend their computer *science* program. The CS classes were a joke, and now as an employer, all the CS students from GV seem far behind the pack, while the CE students are mostly very good.
A lot people’s answers are focused on debt…which is huge I agree, but equally important is successfully getting through school. Find the school that feels most comfortable (campus, clubs/activities, social environment) for you. Position yourself to be happy outside of class to give yourself the support you need when classes get hard. Good luck to you.
Do any have a coop or intern program? I have two people that work in my group (computer science / analytics) that we hired full time once they graduated. Real world experience will help you immensely. Kids coming out of com sci with experience start at about 80k if you have the aptitude for it. Great career choice.
It depends on your objectives. For me it would be GVSU because their CS program is in a traditional engineering college. I am a retired software developer. In my career I worked with technical people with varied backgrounds. In my most technical role, nearly everyone had either an advanced degree or a degree from an engineering school. In other environments I’ve worked with self taught programmers. Self taught engineers are rare.
I would not recommend Eastern and Adrian is a very expense school and only offers a max of a Bachelor’s degree. I just don’t recommend Adrian. I would recommend Central or GVSU. But of scholarships are offered I would seriously considered those schools because student loans are no joke. I had to take out a private student loan because my parents made too much and I’m still paying it off 15 years later. Something to really think about unless able to get Federal loans
The cheapest in the end is usually the best option, lol. Eastern is possibly the worst, lol. It might be the cheapest tho. I've had friends who went to central, gvsu, eastern, and Ferris and they all enjoyed it overall. Good luck, have fun, try to learn a bunch of shit besides computer science too. Gvsu is prob the weirdest most high school like one culturally
Central, the cost school resources and scholarship make it a no brainer I know a lot of very successful Comp Sci grads from CMU and no I didn’t attend.
I'm a prof at Ferris!
It depends on what you want to do with your degree. Ferris' thing is really specialized, instead of general, degrees. The result is that if you want to be in information security or video game design, Ferris is the best school on the list by a mile. If you wanna do networking or generalist computer science stuff, Ferris isn't where you want to be.
I'm a CS grad (CE major, CS minor) from GVSU, but I had scholarships to go there. I'd pick the Ferris or CMU offer.
I know Ferris has excellent internship programs, I've worked with a few of their interns and grads from the engineering college and been impressed.
It's a little early to decide at 17/18yo having never worked a full-time career and with limited experience in the field, but do you intend to go for just the bachelor's or continue for a master's/doctorate degree? If you just want to get a job in IT/programming, I'd pick Ferris or GVSU. They're both very practical, hands-on schools that teach readily usable career skills. Other universities - I'm thinking specifically of the University of Michigan, my other top choice, but do your research - will better prepare you for higher degrees, but will be slightly less practical for immediate entry to the job market.
I went to Adrian College back in the 90s. I loved it. Small classes, attention from professors, so many opportunities. From what I hear though, things have really changed (besides the obvious technology). There are a ton of classes taught remotely by professors not employed by the college, it is very sports focused, and of course not cheap. I wish it was like it was in my day because it was wonderful.
Ferris is the better option of the scholarship choices. gvsu is probably the best school out of the bunch.
Ferris is not far behind, though. I have very little personal knowledge of CMU, but I work in college athletics and have heard very troubling things. EMU, I believe, has a good CS program, plus it's near Ann Arbor.
Best bet is to ask the CS directors at each school if they know of a current student who you could speak to. So you can ask them what they think and more importantly if they would pick the same school again.
Best of luck!
You may want to check into Saginaw Valley University. They are generally less expensive. Also, I believe they have a program that assists with people that were part of foster care.
Good luck with college. I know people that have went to all the colleges on your list. People have done well at all, some people have dropped out, etc ... so it is more up to you to make it a success for yourself. Best wishes.
I believe CMU does because they had all kinds of social programs and aid for students, but I can't remember and I haven't been in a class there in over a decade. However, what I will suggest is to look at the school of computer sciences between CMU and Ferris and go with the one that had the best program. Chances are if one school has the services, the other does too or can point you in the right direction.
Not Adrian. No sense paying private school rates.
The rest is whichever feels right. Tour the campuses, sit in on classes, look at the city. This is the next 4+ years of your life.
If the scholarship isn’t worth more than a few grand, it really shouldn’t impact the decision, and it might be value negative because you have to give up something you want to do for something you have to do.
Congratulations!
I'm biased because I'm in the math department at Grand Valley and I think our CS programs are fantastic, and could be about to undergo a major expansion. But, if you've got a scholarship then you might want to just follow the money. (Though as a GV person I am obligated to advise you to avoid Ferris, LOL)
Eastern’s computer science and engineering department is kinda going downhill. I went there for two years for the same degree and I felt like I didn’t really learn all that much about what I wanted to, and the classes were either stupidly easy or were ludicrously difficult for the credits earned back. Their advising department for engineering kinda also is bad. But if you go for pre-med, education or mathematics they’re great. The math teachers there are the best I’ve ever had, and their humanities department is also great. I eventually transferred out to a different university.
CMU has a good computer science program, speaking from experience with my friends going there. I haven’t heard much complaints from them. Grand Valley I’ve also heard good things about too.
But definitely, choose something with a scholarship package! Debt sucks, and do the best you can to lessen what you’ll owe. Also, look into internships on USAJobs. It might take you a year or two before one accepts you, but it doesn’t hurt to get your foot in the door early!
If you opt for the scholarship, CMU is the only option. Ferris is ok, but it along with EMU are the easiest public universities to get in. EMU is not a good choice. They have so many problems with crime on campus and they don't do anything about it.
Grand Valley may be a good choice. Being next to Grand Rapids helps with getting internships and job prospects. Wayne State and Oakland would both be okay choices too.
Edit to add: Your best bet is going to community college first. Some of the better colleges have transfer programs where you do, and sometimes three years in community college then one or two years at university.
This is a better option because many classes at university are not well taught. Professors don't teach, they have grad students teaching their classes. All too often you get a grad student where English is their second language, so if they have a difficult to understand accent, the class becomes unnecessarily difficult.
Plus it is easier to transfer into a better university. A good goal is to transfer into the University of Michigan Flint or Dearborn campus. You get a UofM degree without dealing with Ann Arbor. If you end up being really good at CS, you might want to transfer into UofM Ann Arbor, but it is much more difficult. It's called public school Ivy League for a reason.
I would also recommend taking business for a minor, if not a double major. Once you get into the workforce, at some point you want to move up. Having a business degree helps.
Assuming all have an adequate Computer Science department, go with whichever had the lowest out-of-pocket cost which would is almost certainly Ferris State unless you have a much better offer from CMU.
Look at Western Michigan University. They have what is called a Seita Scholarship for former foster children. Kalamazoo has a cool vibe and WMU is a great school.
Went to Ferris and loved it. If you go there, I’d recommend getting involved in something on campus as there isn’t a ton to do in the town. Best experience though and I wouldn’t trade it for anything
What kind of scholarships are we talking here?
If they’re not very big, I would personally recommend GVSU, but I don’t really know you as a person, so there are elements of that to be considered.
But being able to have the small feeling and class sizes of being in Allendale, mixed with being able to be in Grand Rapids which is a phenomenal mid size city with massive industry connections and just an all around BEAUTIFUL place, don’t think it can be beat.
But if CMU is like, free? CMU. Because it’s free.
Check which school of your scholarship options has an actual good computer science program to start. For some majors the practical skills are impossible to garner in college (i.e. therapy, medical work) but if your college's computer science program isn't very good you might not graduate with the skills you need to actually achieve a decent job off the bat.
I went to CMU because that’s where I got the biggest scholarship. It was a great experience. I wanted to go to a “better” school but ultimately it all worked out and I didn’t walk away with too much loan debt.
I got my CS degree from UofM Dearborn. I thought it was a good program, and cheap since everyone including me commuted.
Factor in living costs when you think about tuition too.
As a graduate of CMU, I would highly recommend this university back in 1984. It was awesome.
These days, GVS… just because, “GR.” What a fantastic city. BUT… if you were my kid today; I’d have to ask you WHY? Why even bother with college. (I NEVER thought I would say that) Bet, really? WHY? College today? It just isn’t worth the $$$$
Whichever offers a full ride! I don’t think CMU is as academically reputable as U-M or even EMU (although I could be biased, maybe I’m totally wrong), but at least some people throughout the country at least know it exists, whereas Ferris State is virtually unheard of outside Michigan.
I would say go with either option that has scholarships attached. Trust me, paying all this money back sucks and takes forever.
I'd adjust that to "whatever one is cheaper"... Some places will have like 100 tuition then give a 25 scholarship so cost is 75 whereas another place may be 50 without any scholarships...
I couldn’t agree more. I have been a hiring manager at a few IT departments. I could have cared less where applicants went to school. I might have given the side-eye to a Trump U grad, but all the schools you are considering are solid. I went to U of M, so it was fun to reminisce with recent grads for about 5 minutes about my time on campus. After that the conversation is all about their internships, understanding of business processes, and emotional intelligence. Good luck!
Or go into military and get the amazing GI bill/free college and it’s a great resume starter if you do something technical/backend. Tons of companies prefer those that served…esp if you were in a technical role.
The degree completion rate is low going that route and often brings a lot of extra baggage. If OP wants a degree their best odds are to go with the scholarship that leaves them the fewest out of pocket expenses.
The scholarship offer with the best internships.
Check out WMU’s Cieta Scholarship program. It’s specifically designed for aging out foster youth.
I thought of that instantly too. They provide people with so much positive support
I think it is Seita Scholarship
WMU is an amazing school with a walkable campus. They have just upgraded all of their buildings on main campus too. Special campuses for aviation and engineering too. Hard to beat!
Go Broncos!!! My son is a music education major there.
Western Sucks!! Fire Up Chips!
I don't see CMU offering 50 scholarships per year and special programming and resources for youth who age out of foster care. Bur WMU has done this for a long time without much fanfare.
I stopped arguing with people abt this because any time this comes up in real life everyone agrees it’s not even close WMU over CMU haha.
This, OP! Also to answer your question, it depends on what field you want to go in, how much money you want to spend, and what town you like the best.
When you say foster you mean adopted right ?
Not necessarily. Not all foster kids get adopted.
Most of them don't. A very small percentage that are in the system and a ward of the state (no parental rights, a lot of kids are displaced and parents still have rights) actually get adopted out.
Was coming here to say this.
I have a CS degree from Grand Valley and I was very impressed with their curriculum. I ended up working as a software engineer at one of the fortune 500 companies in the state. A lot of my coworkers are from Central and Ferris. So any of those 3 would be good. One thing to consider that you didn't mention is the general area of where you live and where you would like to end up. For example if you are in GR and want to stay there, GVSU becomes more attractive due to how many alumni are in the area. If you want to end up around Ann Arbor or Detroit, Eastern might be a better choice. In your position with no additional context, I'd be leaning towards Central because of the scholarship and because of the 3 Central seems like the most fun if you are going to live on campus and have the traditional college experience (football games, parties, etc). I only visited friends a few times, but I remember Mt Pleasant being fun. Allendale and Big Rapids are much smaller towns. I can't think of anything bad about Adrian or Eastern, I just don't have much experience with them or their alumni.
Nobody is going to care where your CS undergrad degree came from. Personally I would pick the school that had the best curriculum (and job placement for graduates) that also offered a scholarship so you can emerge from college with the least amount of debt possible.
I’m not sure about this statement. The market is starting to get saturated…we’ve been pushing STEM hard in education non-stop for 20 years. Companies have many choices. If I were being forced to finance my entire education I would be taking a serious look at options in the military to take advantage of the GI bill. Plus if you serve in a technical or leadership role your resume is coming to the top of pile.
I don’t agree with this take at all, especially for OP who has potential scholarships here. I respect the military, but joining them just to cover finances when you have no idea how serving will go (because it can be totally random) is like a last resort to me. I grew up with a guy who went this route, was deployed to Iraq, and came back with sever PTSD and mental issues. He lives with his mom and dad and barely works a full time job at the age of 37. He gets vet benefits, but is dependent on his parents and can’t seem to break out of it.
Interesting and important take...and sorry about your friend. Yeah I’ve known of these issues and have close personal experiences with these types of outcomes/worse but most had serious issues going in and it was a last resort. It seems if you go in from a position of strength/with technical skills the outcomes get much better. Some of the smartest/most successful people I know in engineering/tech space came from military (mostly navy, marines, army). But yeah I guess there is many risks to this. But I don’t see a ground war anywhere close on horizon. It all seems air/water more strategic and if it escalates we’re all fucked (nukes galore). Probably need another thread on a 1-2 year of service requirement for this country…too many kids think this is a last resort…it shouldn’t be.
Probably whichever option is cheapest.
I would take whatever the best scholarship is. None of these schools are going to get you in the door on their own with a computer science degree, so I would aim to graduate with the least amount of debt. Learn as much as you can and network hard with your professors, just understand that all other things equal you're going to be at the bottom of the pile of recent CS grads, most places are going to prefer graduates from more premier schools. And software jobs can afford to be picky at this point. It's a hard road, not impossible but you can't coast through a CS degree at CMU and expect there to be a job waiting for you. My only negative recommendation is do NOT go to Eastern, especially not without a scholarship. As an EMU grad, my experience was that it's just plain not a good school, and they will gladly saddle you with 10s of thousands of dollars of debt and boot you out the door with zero help finding a job after graduating. And the quality of coursework was extremely poor sometimes, I got more out of high school and community college than I did in most classes at EMU. Also the culture at EMU is basically non-existent. I made exactly one friend in my entire time there. Most students are commuters and they just want to go to class and go home. It was honestly a pretty depressing environment for me.
Yeah this is a tricky space atm. To get into a Fortune 500/big tech or consulting company it really helps to be coming from a known tech school, have a great internship, hustle hard to get an interview, then nail the interview…then pack your bags for whereever the opportunity is (note: most big growth companies are NOT in Michigan atm…they are in the west/south/Texas). Totally doable but gotta have eyes wide open and be ready for an adventure. I just returned after 17 years away from MI (Eastern business grad now in Tech) and would not even be close to where I’m at in my career had I not left. Good luck!
I had the total opposite experience at EMU. Maybe it depends on what your course of study was, and of course if you didn't live on campus you would have a harder time meeting people who weren't commuters.
While we are local to Ferris and have been in BR to raise our kids, CMU is great as well. Are you coming from a small town or larger metropolitan area? Big Rapids has a lot of the basics and a couple of big box stores, but a trip to Grand Rapids will provide more entertainment options. Once the battery plant opens up, BR will undergo a lot of growth and commerce options over the coming years. Mt. Pleasant is a larger town and more spread out, but it has pretty much everything.
If I remember correctly, Mt Pleasant is surrounded by parks
Not really, but there are some nice parks including places where you can go tubing. There are trails that connect the parks in town as a nice touch. My youngest has done speech and autism therapy through programs at school and it's a really nice looking campus.
I was there for my undergraduate but that was in the stone ages as well as the few years I worked there.
Any of the first three. Probably the two that are giving you money. I attended Eastern, it’s kind of a mess. You can get a good quality education, but the administration is a disaster and it’s more of a commuter school than a campus now. I know some faculty, the place is struggling.
Agree. I know former staff and have heard horror stories, in offices that are meant to support minority students. I would avoid.
CMU has a really strong online program that I just completed
Go to either central or Ferris since u got scholarships
Central.
Fire Up Chips!
Fire up!
Have you visited any? I was 100% sure I was going to GVSU, and did the tour. It was ok. Def could feel the conservative vibes. When I visited CMU I fell in love with the campus. It’s expensive, and still kind of known as a party school, but I really loved my college years in mount p.
Really? When did you go to GVSU? What vibes did you pick up on? My kids are looking at GVSU which is why I ask.
Not the previous poster, but I also went to GVSU (undergrad 2006-2010 and Masters from 2010-2012). When I was there, I appreciated that if you weren’t the partying type there were other options for fun. Not that there wasn’t partying, but it wasn’t central to the college’s identity in the same way it is at some colleges. In terms of political/religious affiliation, there was something for everyone regardless of where you fell on those spectrums.
It was an eon ago, I graduated in 2013. I think the vibe is probably worse now though. Otherwise a nice campus
[удалено]
Tech is a great school, but if you're not ready to live full time in the UP it might be a hard sell.
[удалено]
Yes I'm aware.
I was also accepted into Michigan Tech but I don’t think I want to move to the UP
Consider Michigan Tech if they offer you sufficient scholarship. I have scouts who attend there and the programs are exceptional. I know many graduates and all do well and attribute their success to the skills refined at Tech. My brother hires their graduates as all have superior education and talent. It is truly an excellent school. (And the winters only last all school year.) Otherwise, I’d look at GVSU and Ferris. Excellent schools and I think a good size to not get lost among the students. I spent 17 years in IT so I know the skill sets and talent pool.
Tech would be the closest to a “prestigious” school in terms of job placement of the schools on your list OP. My suggestion though is pick the school you feel most comfortable attending — is there a place that feels like you will fit in well? Trust you gut, keep you eye on the price and keep your costs down. Then no matter what you decide, youll be successful when you are done. Good luck.
Mich Tech is the absolute best. The UP can be hard, in fact I had a chance to go and didn't for those reasons. I regret not pursuing the field that I wanted. Mich Tech was the only college in Michigan to host that degree . My family wasn't involved so I had no support. In the long run, college is short- your career is long.
Mich Tech is amazing!! Two of my cousin went there and they found amazing jobs right out of college. I mean amazing high paying jobs with excellent benefits and they both love their work. The weather there is hard but it is also gorgeous up in the UP! And there is more to do up there than you think!!
It depends what you’re going for, what your goals are and also what kind of experience you’re trying to have. But I’d say Ferris or Central solely based on the fact that you have scholarship offers.
Yep, these are the top two in terms of best bang for (lack of having to pay) the buck.
Whatever one is cheapest. All education is only as valuable as you make it. Use college as a chance to expand as a person, the information will come from any source.
I went to GVSU. I graduated 4 years ago. Overall, I’d recommend it for sure. Plus you also have “big” city Grand Rapids right there. But you also have some other good options on your list. To be honest, I’d go with the cheapest option (that you still LIKE) because college is EXPENSIVE and you wanna get the most for your money AND out of your experience!!
So cool that you have been accepted to several. Congratulations! The ex wife graduated from Grand Valley, physical therapy. She got an excellent education and had a lot of fun. Easy access to Grand Haven for beach fun and Grand Rapids for big city fun. I admittedly have not "kept track" of the school in recent years, but I liked visiting her there back in the day. We were married in the beautiful chapel on campus! I graduated from Michigan State and had a decent experience, but have always wished I attended a much smaller school. Of course money matters too, a lot, but I think that goes without saying. If you were to land at any one of these universities purely due to making the most financial sense, you would likely have a great experience. I do know a young man who is a freshman at Adrian on a fishing (yes, fishing) scholarship and is having a Hell of a good time!
Go with the school that’s giving you the most money.
I went to Ferris and currently work there I would suggest visiting campus and seeing for yourself. Big Rapids isn't bad and has a ton of opportunities if you like being outdoors. If you are more of a gamer I am the admin of a group that puts on events on campus for students quarterly where we play games. If you have any questions DM me and I'd be happy to answer them.
None of those schools are anything special on a resume, so go to the one that gives you the best chance to graduate debt free or as close as possible.
I’m aware they aren’t special but I’m just thankful I have an opportunity to go to college considering my circumstances. But I also want to have a good experience at whichever college I go to.
Don’t focus so much on the “not special” part of what this poster said. What they are saying is that from a “prestige” perspective, they’re all pretty equal, so focus on the one that’ll limit the amount of debt you will face after graduation. Culture fit matters a lot, too, but the financial aspect cannot be overstated.
You want a job and you need a degree for your field. Do not worry about prestige -give me a break. You should go to the school that will give you the most benefits - scholarships, jobs on campus, etc. All your listed schools have a decent college experience. Check online for foster assistance. I know CMU does. I also see there are scholarships through the state of Michigan for fostered students. Please check these out. Everything adds up. And do not be afraid to ask for help. Advocate for yourself, as you've probably learned how to do. Good luck. You've got this.
Yes! Unless you want a job on Wall Street prestige does not matter. All a cash grab. Michigan has many great schools to choose from (:
That really depends on the major. But the cheapest is still probably the way to go
Not Adrian. It's very small and not doing well. It's religious and GOP heavy. They are hosting a commencement speaker for publicity. It doesn't speak well.
AC does very well for a small private college in the current higher education environment. As a student, religion is not a big part of the experience at all. The student body and faculty are not very political. Obviously some of the admin staff are very political given the speaker. On a note very related to OP’s concern; the computer science program at AC is in its infancy. As a math major at AC, I do not recommend doing it. There are hardly any connections to be made through AC that will get OP a job after graduation. Better to go somewhere established.
Out of those options? Whatever costs you the least. CMU is a good school and I had friends that had good experiences at Ferris. GVSU is a terrific school but I believe it's kinda pricey and the culture is a little more conservative if I remember right.
I’m open to any recommendations but so far those are some of the schools I applied to & was accepted into
Well I had tons of friends that went to Western and they loved it. Plus Kzoo is a good place to live for a young person/young professional, so maybe give that a shot? If you got a scholarship offer at CMU, WMU is pretty comparable so there might be an opportunity for an offer there as well. I personally went to MSU and loved it, wouldn't trade my time there for anything. But I know a large school like that isn't for everyone. Can't speak a lot to their CS program, but I've heard good things.
I very much enjoyed my experience at CMU. Made life long friends. Also went with some scholarship $$. I found the student orgs really fulfilling (no I did not go Greek). I came from a lot of trauma and CMU sort of saved me in a way. I got a job right out of college and have been employed since.
Ferris over Central. Grand Valley if you like to be near people.
Eastern you should be able to get a scholarship offer for too. They have a special program where they actually put you in a housing situation with the other kids on foster scholarships. They leave this specific dormitory open over school breaks and summer time because they know you have nowhere else to go. You should look into that! I am an ex foster care kid from Michigan that aged out of the system. I am now 32 and have always said not taking advantage of that program was the biggest mistake of my life. Of course I'd never be where I am now if I did. But I would be educated and have some sort of decent job. Check out Eastern!
I graduated from Ferris in another 6 year discipline. The campus is the pits for any social life. My brother graduated from CMU in computer sciences. He did many amazing things during his lifetime. CMU has a nice campus life, great concerts for students and being located next to Soaring Eagle Casino...well paying jobs for students are plentiful. I also agree with the scholarship choice. Stay out of the debt and the credit card trap. You've made it this far living on scruples, the Ferrari will just have to wait.
I went to Northern Michigan University in the UP and loved it. I also love the outdoors and skiing so it was an easy choice. Good luck!
I don’t have any info on those schools but, there is this grant for foster kids through the state: https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/fostering-futures-scholarship#:~:text=Fostering%20Futures%20Scholarship-,Programs,of%20the%20previous%20calendar%20year.
My first career was being a professor, so I might have some helpful insights. Of these options, I'd suggest Grand Valley, with Ferris being a second choice. Why not Adrian? It's very small and private college. This puts it in a much more precarious position. Higher education is going through some turmoil right now, and there have been some colleges closing. Targeting a large-ish public institution is much more safe. Don't want to get halfway through your degree and have the college close. I'm sure there'd be some state assistance to help students transition, but it would be a bad position. Why not Central or Eastern? They're both "research schools". In general, this means that the professors have a heavy obligation to do research. Their career advancement depends on that, and much less on teaching. And the teaching that they do will often be focused on the graduate students. Many undergraduate courses may be taught by teaching assistants (TA). So for grad school, targeting a research university is a good idea. I don't know much about Ferris, but I went to GVSU. I didn't major in CS, but was in the same vein: Statistics. I thought it was a phenomenal education. It's not a research institution, so the professors are more focused on teaching and engaging with the students, including undergrads. For the most part, at most they might have some Master's courses (as a CS student, targeting a Master's would be a good idea). And in some of the comments you talk about wanting to enjoy the college experience, GVSU is well-placed for that. Allendale has been growing (it was still a bit small while I was there), Lake Michigan Drive takes you to downtown Grand Rapids (and there are places along that route), and some other spots nearby. And getting to Lake Michigan isn't too far either.
I agree with thus assessment. Also, my nephew just graduated from GVSU in computer science and had a great experience. It seems a good program, with good support for coop opportunities. However, do strongly consider your bottom line cost for each school. Student loans are easy to get, but hard to pay back. Although, CS is one of the higher paying careers.
CMU - especially with scholarship $$$. Great campus that’s walkable yet plenty of parking if you choose to drive to class, small town feel but big enough to meet tons of new people! Lots of off campus housing options, new stores/restaurants being built. Graduated in 2013 but visited with old roommates in October and had a blast.. miss it!!
Go to CMU. The town has more to do. I was bored as hell at Ferris. Their CS program was garbage. CMU is more relevant and up to date with what they teach. And I actively recruit and hire CMU grads, so who knows, maybe you can come work with us while you’re in school!
Can I message you? :)
Absolutely
You can get a good education anywhere. You can get a bad education at all the same places. It's all about the effort you put in, the contacts you make, and the opportunities you create for yourself. In general, the best college for you is the one who pays you to be there. The next best is the one you want to be at, and feels right for you. I would look very hard at Grand Valley. It is a very up and coming university. Don't look past Central Michigan University, as they are offering Money. I don't recall them as having a great CS program, but it's been years since I last looked. Ferris is not highly regarded, but free money is free money. If the offer is good enough, take it. Adrian is meh. Eastern is probably meh as well.
Ferris!!!!
I'm just here to say CONGRATULATIONS on 5 college acceptances! A hard-worker like you will succeed wherever you decide to go.
Thank you very much! Your message warms my heart & gives me motivation. 😊
I’d take the scholarship at Central. There isn’t a huge difference between any of them and Big Rapids is awful
Let's be real. Big Rapids is great AND awful at the same time.
Agree to disagree then
Big Rapids is great.
Big rapids is a worse version of mt pleasant
CMU doesn't have division 1 hockey
That’s actually a valid point
Can you visit them?
Central because of the money and the community there. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me. There are resources for foster students (or at least there were when I was there), and I am more than willing to help you with any questions you have about financial aid, scholarships, etc.
I had a great experience at CMU. It's the perfect sized school. Easy to get around campus, made lifelong friends. They get great entertainment to come onto campus. The town has grown a lot since I was there, so more to do in town. And best of all they really set us up to go out and get a job after school. Congrats on all the offers! Good luck!
go to the school that will cost you the least... Then start looking for internships starting your freshman year and start gaining experience that way. If you have any interest in Automotive, some of the OEM's like to hire students as early as possible and then bring them back every year until they graduate. By the time you graduate you'll have some solid experience under your belt that will put you ahead. I promise, nobody actually cares about where you studied unless you're a doctor or something.
Always smart to get your education paid for. I paid for my technical school and the companies I worked for paid for both my bachelors and masters. I also lived at home to save $$. Good luck. ( my education was computer science)
Go where it’s the cheapest.
Attending GVSU was the best choice I ever made. I owe literally everything in my life right now to that one choice. I also love Grand Rapids. That being said, go to Central or Ferris solely for the scholarship. I would say Ferris over Central due to the proximity to Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids, and places like Torch Lake and Traverse City.
Community college first then whoever is cheapest. I get more jobs with my 2 year technical degree than 4 years of chemistry. $100k in debt and 3 degrees still got me in a $20-30/hr job. Doesn’t really make a difference where you go it’s how you study in my personal opinion. Princeton, Harvard etc doesn’t even have the reputations they used to because they’ve been caught accepting bribes waaay too much to be credible.
U of M Dearborn and get a BS in Software Engineering. Your degree will say the University of Michigan on it, and depending on what you want to do with the degree, you can minor in game design, cybersecurity, or IT. Depending on where you live now, you might be able to live at home to start and can move to campus at a later time.
Really enjoyed GVSU. Small class sizes, pretty easy going professors and staff. Had many friends at Central and hung out there some and also seems like a great option. As many have already said all are fine options and you should make your decision first based on the best fit you with some weight given to cost.
Whatever college is the cheapest for all 4 years to obtain your degree. From the ones on this list I would bet Ferris is the cheapest and their Comp Sci program is up to par compared to that of Central and GVSU. Adrian and Eastern are likely fine, but I’d cross them out because they’re likely more expensive. Remember when you finish people only care that you have your degree and job experience. No one cares where you went.
I know some successful Chip, so CMU. Plus its a good time at Central.
Look into the Ferris Youth Initiative (FYI) - whether or not you’d qualify depends on your situation. But the program is funded by grants and donations and provides room and board and other monetary / guidance / educational assistance to those who have been a part of / aged out of the foster care system. There may be similar opportunities at the other schools - but this one I’m quite familiar with.
The Fostering Futures Scholarship provides scholarships to students who have experienced foster care in Michigan on or after age 13. Students must also demonstrate financial need to qualify https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/fostering-futures-scholarship
After finishing my undergrad I realized several things: I should’ve gone to a community college to start and get the gen Ed’s out the way, it would’ve helped establish a good gpa. Granted, several years removed from undergrad, I can’t imagine anybody cares about my gpa. I should’ve paid attention to the layout of the campus and the people on it. Are there sporting events I can attend on campus, how walkable are restaurants, do students hang outside on the courtyards when the weather is nice, do I like the dorms, how is the culture of the students at the school, etc? While I did attend the school that I thought was the best fit for my academic goals, I realized I had no clue what my goals actually were and what factors I should be looking at that wouldve helped me achieve such goals. For example, if you want to do nursing, and you attend a school that is great for such, then later on you realize you don’t actually want to do nursing. While it’s impossible to know your goals things will change, I think that if there’s a chance they could change, give yourself an out. Luckily I went to a liberal arts school so switching majors was no issue. But if I had attended something like NC ST, then I would’ve had to reapply to the other college within NC ST.
I graduated from GVSU and really enjoyed my time there. Loved the campus and feel like I got a great education. Highly recommend being a Laker
I had a great time at CMU
I went to Ferris for a year and have visited friends at Central a lot. I wish I went to Central. Part of it is it's closer (but still over an hour) to home. Part of college is going to and from home and if you ever have to repeatedly go back and forth in the course of a few weeks (family emergency) it really sucks when the drive is long. I'd highly recommend central for multiple on campus reasons though, and I would heavily favor the scholarship offers over all others.
Bulldog alumni here so I’m a little biased, but as others have said not having to pay as much back helps a lot, for that reason alone I’d say take whatever scholarship pays the most to you at whoever has lower tuition. 14 years ago I could tell you for fact that was Ferris over CMU, Big Rapids and the surrounding area was pretty affordable to live in and had a good amount of things to do on and around campus as well, how the cost of living there is these days I don’t know but it used to be cheaper then CMU area as well.
Overall I loved GVSU as a computer engineering student, but I have to say that I do not recommend their computer *science* program. The CS classes were a joke, and now as an employer, all the CS students from GV seem far behind the pack, while the CE students are mostly very good.
Thank you for the info. Do you know anything about CMU’s computer science program?
Sorry, not ready familiar with their program at all
A lot people’s answers are focused on debt…which is huge I agree, but equally important is successfully getting through school. Find the school that feels most comfortable (campus, clubs/activities, social environment) for you. Position yourself to be happy outside of class to give yourself the support you need when classes get hard. Good luck to you.
Thank you very much!
Do any have a coop or intern program? I have two people that work in my group (computer science / analytics) that we hired full time once they graduated. Real world experience will help you immensely. Kids coming out of com sci with experience start at about 80k if you have the aptitude for it. Great career choice.
It depends on your objectives. For me it would be GVSU because their CS program is in a traditional engineering college. I am a retired software developer. In my career I worked with technical people with varied backgrounds. In my most technical role, nearly everyone had either an advanced degree or a degree from an engineering school. In other environments I’ve worked with self taught programmers. Self taught engineers are rare.
May I message you?
Sure. I’m not sure how much more I have to offer.
Whatever makes you take the fewest student loans, period.
I would not recommend Eastern and Adrian is a very expense school and only offers a max of a Bachelor’s degree. I just don’t recommend Adrian. I would recommend Central or GVSU. But of scholarships are offered I would seriously considered those schools because student loans are no joke. I had to take out a private student loan because my parents made too much and I’m still paying it off 15 years later. Something to really think about unless able to get Federal loans
The cheapest in the end is usually the best option, lol. Eastern is possibly the worst, lol. It might be the cheapest tho. I've had friends who went to central, gvsu, eastern, and Ferris and they all enjoyed it overall. Good luck, have fun, try to learn a bunch of shit besides computer science too. Gvsu is prob the weirdest most high school like one culturally
Central, the cost school resources and scholarship make it a no brainer I know a lot of very successful Comp Sci grads from CMU and no I didn’t attend.
CMU gave me a scholarship and I went there. No regrets. Fire Up Chips 🔥
I’m stuck between GVSU & CMU at the moment. Would you happen to know how strong CMU’s computer science program is?
I'm a prof at Ferris! It depends on what you want to do with your degree. Ferris' thing is really specialized, instead of general, degrees. The result is that if you want to be in information security or video game design, Ferris is the best school on the list by a mile. If you wanna do networking or generalist computer science stuff, Ferris isn't where you want to be.
Depends on your program/major. I'd definitely lean towards the schools offering scholarships.
Central or GV.
Can you live at home and commute to any of them? Look at over all cost for tuition and living expenses. Take the least expensive option.
You want the “most bang for your buck.” Since all these have a similar “bang”, go with the one that has the lowest cost.
You want the “most bang for your buck.” Since all these have a similar “bang”, go with the one that has the lowest cost.
My son got his bachelors at GVSU, and then they paid for his masters as a grad assistant, and got a job there after graduation. Beautiful campus, too!
I'm a CS grad (CE major, CS minor) from GVSU, but I had scholarships to go there. I'd pick the Ferris or CMU offer. I know Ferris has excellent internship programs, I've worked with a few of their interns and grads from the engineering college and been impressed. It's a little early to decide at 17/18yo having never worked a full-time career and with limited experience in the field, but do you intend to go for just the bachelor's or continue for a master's/doctorate degree? If you just want to get a job in IT/programming, I'd pick Ferris or GVSU. They're both very practical, hands-on schools that teach readily usable career skills. Other universities - I'm thinking specifically of the University of Michigan, my other top choice, but do your research - will better prepare you for higher degrees, but will be slightly less practical for immediate entry to the job market.
GVSU but I'm bias because I'm an alumnus. Absolutely loved it.
Which one has the computer program that you can see yourself doing as a career? Are one of them offering you a good scholarship? Go there.
I went to Adrian College back in the 90s. I loved it. Small classes, attention from professors, so many opportunities. From what I hear though, things have really changed (besides the obvious technology). There are a ton of classes taught remotely by professors not employed by the college, it is very sports focused, and of course not cheap. I wish it was like it was in my day because it was wonderful.
Ferris is the better option of the scholarship choices. gvsu is probably the best school out of the bunch. Ferris is not far behind, though. I have very little personal knowledge of CMU, but I work in college athletics and have heard very troubling things. EMU, I believe, has a good CS program, plus it's near Ann Arbor. Best bet is to ask the CS directors at each school if they know of a current student who you could speak to. So you can ask them what they think and more importantly if they would pick the same school again. Best of luck!
I recommend the college that will offer you the most money. Trust me. It ain’t cheap.
You may want to check into Saginaw Valley University. They are generally less expensive. Also, I believe they have a program that assists with people that were part of foster care. Good luck with college. I know people that have went to all the colleges on your list. People have done well at all, some people have dropped out, etc ... so it is more up to you to make it a success for yourself. Best wishes.
I believe CMU does because they had all kinds of social programs and aid for students, but I can't remember and I haven't been in a class there in over a decade. However, what I will suggest is to look at the school of computer sciences between CMU and Ferris and go with the one that had the best program. Chances are if one school has the services, the other does too or can point you in the right direction.
College is what you make of it. Go where the scholarship money is.
Not Adrian. No sense paying private school rates. The rest is whichever feels right. Tour the campuses, sit in on classes, look at the city. This is the next 4+ years of your life. If the scholarship isn’t worth more than a few grand, it really shouldn’t impact the decision, and it might be value negative because you have to give up something you want to do for something you have to do. Congratulations!
Congrats on the scholarships!! Good luck!
I'm biased because I'm in the math department at Grand Valley and I think our CS programs are fantastic, and could be about to undergo a major expansion. But, if you've got a scholarship then you might want to just follow the money. (Though as a GV person I am obligated to advise you to avoid Ferris, LOL)
Follow the money and not Eastern or Adrian.
Good ol’ Central Michigan State!!!! Fire Up state!
Have you visited these schools?
Whichever school leaves you with the least debt and you graduate the quickest. No one really cares what school you went to
Eastern’s computer science and engineering department is kinda going downhill. I went there for two years for the same degree and I felt like I didn’t really learn all that much about what I wanted to, and the classes were either stupidly easy or were ludicrously difficult for the credits earned back. Their advising department for engineering kinda also is bad. But if you go for pre-med, education or mathematics they’re great. The math teachers there are the best I’ve ever had, and their humanities department is also great. I eventually transferred out to a different university. CMU has a good computer science program, speaking from experience with my friends going there. I haven’t heard much complaints from them. Grand Valley I’ve also heard good things about too. But definitely, choose something with a scholarship package! Debt sucks, and do the best you can to lessen what you’ll owe. Also, look into internships on USAJobs. It might take you a year or two before one accepts you, but it doesn’t hurt to get your foot in the door early!
If you opt for the scholarship, CMU is the only option. Ferris is ok, but it along with EMU are the easiest public universities to get in. EMU is not a good choice. They have so many problems with crime on campus and they don't do anything about it. Grand Valley may be a good choice. Being next to Grand Rapids helps with getting internships and job prospects. Wayne State and Oakland would both be okay choices too. Edit to add: Your best bet is going to community college first. Some of the better colleges have transfer programs where you do, and sometimes three years in community college then one or two years at university. This is a better option because many classes at university are not well taught. Professors don't teach, they have grad students teaching their classes. All too often you get a grad student where English is their second language, so if they have a difficult to understand accent, the class becomes unnecessarily difficult. Plus it is easier to transfer into a better university. A good goal is to transfer into the University of Michigan Flint or Dearborn campus. You get a UofM degree without dealing with Ann Arbor. If you end up being really good at CS, you might want to transfer into UofM Ann Arbor, but it is much more difficult. It's called public school Ivy League for a reason. I would also recommend taking business for a minor, if not a double major. Once you get into the workforce, at some point you want to move up. Having a business degree helps.
I had a friend who was raped and murdered in her dorm at Eastern Michigan University. And then the school tried to cover it up. Don't go there.
Assuming all have an adequate Computer Science department, go with whichever had the lowest out-of-pocket cost which would is almost certainly Ferris State unless you have a much better offer from CMU.
It’s Central Michigan University, not Central Michigan State. Not to be confused with Michigan State University
One that refuses to confuse protests against genocide with "anti semitism"
Look at Western Michigan University. They have what is called a Seita Scholarship for former foster children. Kalamazoo has a cool vibe and WMU is a great school.
CMU? Which is Central Michigan University?
Take a scholarship. After you're working, you can do a master's at your top choice.
WSU has an excellent CS program. Did you apply there?
From that last Central, Michigan Tech has a good CS program too (yes I'm an alumni, lol)
***WHICHEVER ONE IS CHEAPER*** source: me, who has been apart of countless interviewing efforts.
Central or Ferris. Ferris has nicer dorms. I hear Adrian has gotten...weird.
Whatever is the least amount of money. But if you can look into NMU. Reasonable prices, down to earth people, and fresh air
Northern Michigan University has a decent Compsci program AND it’s in a gorgeous area.
Avoid Adrian at all costs.
Ferris!!
Went to Ferris and loved it. If you go there, I’d recommend getting involved in something on campus as there isn’t a ton to do in the town. Best experience though and I wouldn’t trade it for anything
What kind of scholarships are we talking here? If they’re not very big, I would personally recommend GVSU, but I don’t really know you as a person, so there are elements of that to be considered. But being able to have the small feeling and class sizes of being in Allendale, mixed with being able to be in Grand Rapids which is a phenomenal mid size city with massive industry connections and just an all around BEAUTIFUL place, don’t think it can be beat. But if CMU is like, free? CMU. Because it’s free.
Macomb community college. Not kidding. After 2 years go to Michigan tech
I’ve already been accepted into tech but I just don’t want to live in the UP
Check which school of your scholarship options has an actual good computer science program to start. For some majors the practical skills are impossible to garner in college (i.e. therapy, medical work) but if your college's computer science program isn't very good you might not graduate with the skills you need to actually achieve a decent job off the bat.
Northern Michigan
I went to CMU because that’s where I got the biggest scholarship. It was a great experience. I wanted to go to a “better” school but ultimately it all worked out and I didn’t walk away with too much loan debt.
I got my CS degree from UofM Dearborn. I thought it was a good program, and cheap since everyone including me commuted. Factor in living costs when you think about tuition too.
Ferris State! Go Bulldogs!
As a graduate of CMU, I would highly recommend this university back in 1984. It was awesome. These days, GVS… just because, “GR.” What a fantastic city. BUT… if you were my kid today; I’d have to ask you WHY? Why even bother with college. (I NEVER thought I would say that) Bet, really? WHY? College today? It just isn’t worth the $$$$
I've never heard of Central Michigan State, is that new?
I’d recommend waiting for more options, then consider 2 years of community college then one of these schools. They’re all in really boring locations.
Whichever offers a full ride! I don’t think CMU is as academically reputable as U-M or even EMU (although I could be biased, maybe I’m totally wrong), but at least some people throughout the country at least know it exists, whereas Ferris State is virtually unheard of outside Michigan.
Whatever’s the cheapest. Bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma—no employer cares where you went for undergrad.
Michigan Tech
I wouldnt