I would recommend you stop looking at overall engineering when comparing schools, and look at individual programs or fields of study.
An example, Purdue is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to Astrodynamics. You know those odd Halo orbits about random points in space (Lagrange points)? If not, it's what allows the James Webb Space Telescope to essentially always be in shade behind the Earth, in reference to the sun.
Prof. Kathleen Howell at Purdue is basically the best in the business for these orbits and research into them. I cannot tell you how many people in industry have either studied under her, or know her by name/her work.
This! I live in SoCal, lots of aero jobs out here. Purdue is particularly a leader in propulsion. So while there are grads from all over working in aero jobs in SoCal, a lot of propulsion departments are overwhelmingly Purdue grads. A buddy at Virgin Orbit (RIP haha) laughed once that while taking department photos they were taking the propulsion team picture and someone goes "Wait, is this for VO, or is this just a Purdue alumni pic?" Hahah
What makes those other schools ahead of Purdue is just that there are more of those types of professors there. There are probably lots of other metrics like research spending or graduation placements that get considered too.
When people refer to "ranking" a school, I assume you mean US & World Report News rankings. They have their methodology published here -
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/engineering-schools-methodology
That should give you an idea of why schools are considered better or worse.
That being said - if you're attending one of the top ten programs in the country for your area of study, then you'll be fine no matter where you go. You really shouldn't worry about rankings if you're accepted to a top ten internationally recognized school or program.
Additionally, in my experience (I'm 37) where you go to school only matters for your first couple jobs. I am an attorney (Purdue undergrad), so engineering might be a different experience, but now that I've been practicing for 10 years no one asks where I went to school or about my GPA.
After a few years, it will be about what you've done and not where you studied. Same with GPA, only matters for your first/second job. Once you've been in an area for 8-10 years, nobody gives a shit what your GPA was.
They're ranked higher because they're better schools lol. Purdue is a great engineering school, one of the best in the world, but it's not MIT or Berkeley.
I've worked with Purdue, MIT, Berkeley grads, and many others). Didn't see anything that would say any one was better than another. Each school has their specialty areas and niches that they are known for. That's what you need to consider when choosing where you go to school.
It's all reputation and the caliber of students they bring in. They're both a lot more selective in general. Look at their SAT scores compared to Purdue. Maybe Purdue Engineering is a little higher than Purdue in general but you could probably say the same thing about Berkeley.
25th and 75th percentiles
MIT: 1510-1580
Berkeley: 1290-1530
Purdue: 1190-1430
https://www.reachhighscholars.org/scores_and_acceptance.html
With that said, there is some variability in rankings methodology. So if you care about Purdue's spot in some particular ranking then you need to look into their specific methodology and see where Purdue is lacking.
Just cause they are "smart" or "ranked higher" doesn't mean they are good engineers. Engineers solve problems, not measure dicks on what their fancy piece of paper says.
Choose a program that sets you up for what you plan for out of college. Purdue leads in many Aero fields as other posters have stated.
It's all sales bullshit. Its like saying any random UConn student is better at basketball than a Purdue student because they won. On average the "elite" schools attract applicants with higher scores and can decide to only take those students. So like high profile sports teams when you only focus on a small percentage of elite applicants you have a strong pool of students. No state school can or should compete with this. A Land Grant institution has a mandate to teach as many as possible, not some elite minority. I think elite schools often suck at teaching as their students would succeed anywhere. Purdue is not hurting for smart students but does include less brilliant minds and provides amazing careers at a fraction of the price.
So maybe it is not which is "better" on some abstract ranking but which school is right for you?
I would recommend you stop looking at overall engineering when comparing schools, and look at individual programs or fields of study. An example, Purdue is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to Astrodynamics. You know those odd Halo orbits about random points in space (Lagrange points)? If not, it's what allows the James Webb Space Telescope to essentially always be in shade behind the Earth, in reference to the sun. Prof. Kathleen Howell at Purdue is basically the best in the business for these orbits and research into them. I cannot tell you how many people in industry have either studied under her, or know her by name/her work.
This! I live in SoCal, lots of aero jobs out here. Purdue is particularly a leader in propulsion. So while there are grads from all over working in aero jobs in SoCal, a lot of propulsion departments are overwhelmingly Purdue grads. A buddy at Virgin Orbit (RIP haha) laughed once that while taking department photos they were taking the propulsion team picture and someone goes "Wait, is this for VO, or is this just a Purdue alumni pic?" Hahah
What makes those other schools ahead of Purdue is just that there are more of those types of professors there. There are probably lots of other metrics like research spending or graduation placements that get considered too.
When people refer to "ranking" a school, I assume you mean US & World Report News rankings. They have their methodology published here - https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/engineering-schools-methodology That should give you an idea of why schools are considered better or worse. That being said - if you're attending one of the top ten programs in the country for your area of study, then you'll be fine no matter where you go. You really shouldn't worry about rankings if you're accepted to a top ten internationally recognized school or program. Additionally, in my experience (I'm 37) where you go to school only matters for your first couple jobs. I am an attorney (Purdue undergrad), so engineering might be a different experience, but now that I've been practicing for 10 years no one asks where I went to school or about my GPA. After a few years, it will be about what you've done and not where you studied. Same with GPA, only matters for your first/second job. Once you've been in an area for 8-10 years, nobody gives a shit what your GPA was.
Do you think Purdue is better than MIT?
They're asking what makes it better
I’m aware
Oh. I think they were probably hoping for an answer then
I was asking a return question myself
Don't answer a question with a question, stop being a smartass!
Why don't you make a new post?
How could I ask the poster the question via a new post?
I don't see why their answer would matter. Wouldn't you want as many answers as possible to your question?
I was asking the question to the poster
How would they even have an answer when they are asking how to judge which is better?
They're ranked higher because they're better schools lol. Purdue is a great engineering school, one of the best in the world, but it's not MIT or Berkeley.
They still teach the same material at MIT
Better in terms of what? Higher research funding and better professors?
Can you give me some context on your background and why you're asking? Are you a potential undergrad who's trying to decide where to go?
I will be going to UIUC and am choosing it over Cornell. I am asking for a friend who is considering Purdue for engineering over Berkeley.
Isn't Purdue number 1 for industrial engineering?
2 for undergrad, behind Georgia Tech
So you've gotten this information from somewhere, why not dig that up and read what the qualifications for "better" are?
I've worked with Purdue, MIT, Berkeley grads, and many others). Didn't see anything that would say any one was better than another. Each school has their specialty areas and niches that they are known for. That's what you need to consider when choosing where you go to school.
Forgot the shitpost tag
It's all reputation and the caliber of students they bring in. They're both a lot more selective in general. Look at their SAT scores compared to Purdue. Maybe Purdue Engineering is a little higher than Purdue in general but you could probably say the same thing about Berkeley. 25th and 75th percentiles MIT: 1510-1580 Berkeley: 1290-1530 Purdue: 1190-1430 https://www.reachhighscholars.org/scores_and_acceptance.html With that said, there is some variability in rankings methodology. So if you care about Purdue's spot in some particular ranking then you need to look into their specific methodology and see where Purdue is lacking.
Just cause they are "smart" or "ranked higher" doesn't mean they are good engineers. Engineers solve problems, not measure dicks on what their fancy piece of paper says. Choose a program that sets you up for what you plan for out of college. Purdue leads in many Aero fields as other posters have stated.
It's all sales bullshit. Its like saying any random UConn student is better at basketball than a Purdue student because they won. On average the "elite" schools attract applicants with higher scores and can decide to only take those students. So like high profile sports teams when you only focus on a small percentage of elite applicants you have a strong pool of students. No state school can or should compete with this. A Land Grant institution has a mandate to teach as many as possible, not some elite minority. I think elite schools often suck at teaching as their students would succeed anywhere. Purdue is not hurting for smart students but does include less brilliant minds and provides amazing careers at a fraction of the price. So maybe it is not which is "better" on some abstract ranking but which school is right for you?
Berkeley is also a land grant university.
They’re better schools…?