The University of South Florida

Date: Feb 10 2007
Major: Computer Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
I was also in the Honors College @ USF, so that may color my opinions. Rather than go to one of the podunk college towns in the northern part of the state, I got a comparable education in a major city at a bargain basement price with tons of scholarship money.

You could go to the "flagship" university in the state, but in reality, the difference in quality of education is small. Rather than go there and be one of many, I moved to Tampa and became a top student. This enabled me to have access to the administration and faculty at a level you just wouldn't see at the more "prestigious" universities in the state.

In addition, the metro area of Tampa offers so much. If sports is your thing, there is almost every major sport (including a up-and-coming football team @ USF); if you like more cultured activities, there is a performing arts center, museum, etc., etc.; USF is close to the water so they have the benefit of having not only the standard campus recreational fare, but also both waterfront (sailing, scuba diving, etc.) and riverfront (canoing, kayaking, etc.) outposts. I had three jobs/internships that simply would not have been available in a smaller city.

All in all, the Honors College is incredible, the College of Engineering is okay, and the University as a whole is really a rising star and one of the largest universities in the country. I highly recommend it.