Need some thoughtful perspective here. My kid is entering his senior year in high school. Very intent on getting a Mechanical Engineering degree. Based on the numbers (GPA, AP courses, SAT, etc) he would be at least median or likely above median for CU Boulder engineering or School of Mines. However, he has a college counsellor who seems to think that Western Colorado University engineering in Gunnison is the same as a CU Boulder engineering degree since they're "partnered".
I know how much faculty, facilities, rigor, and reputation factors into MechE's degree quality. WCU seems severely unlikely to have anything like Boulder. To me, it's like saying I have a degree from Harvard Online, therefore, I went to Harvard. Not remotely the same to employers, and rightfully so.
I'm 51 and it's been a minute or two since I investigated colleges for myself. I know a lot has changed in 30 years WRT higher education, but a lot of things don't.
Can someone enlighten me on this "partnership"? I'm frustrated because it feels like motivated reasoning because his girlfriend is looking at WCU and he wants the best of both worlds.
Can you help a teenager and his dad out?
Edit: downvotes? Someone want to share why?