How should I compare the long-term value of UIUC and Purdue?

Compare the actual department, not the university label. Look at each school’s required courses, access to undergraduate research, capstone projects, student organizations, co-ops or internships, and how easily students can enter or switch into your intended major.

Career access should carry more weight than small differences in prestige. Ask each career center and department which employers recruit directly, whether interviews happen on campus, how many students obtain internships before senior year, and where recent graduates tend to work or attend graduate school.

Calculate value using your most realistic four-year scenario: renewable scholarships, annual tuition increases, housing after the first year, travel, required technology, and the likelihood of finishing on time. Visit both campuses if possible and judge where you can picture building relationships with professors and peers. At two academically strong schools with comparable cost, the environment that helps you secure experience early and graduate efficiently will matter more than a marginal difference in name recognition.