I think you can't go wrong with either choice, but I wouldn't make the decision based on potential starting salary. Choosing a college is about more than just what classes you'll take or you get when you graduate...remember you're also choosing your home for the next 4 years or potentially longer. I would look at the culture at the school and town more than anything else. Your major and career goals can change, but the fact that you still have to live there won't. A good test for picking a school is asking yourself: "would I move to this city just to live if I weren't picking a college?"