I think a great undergrad student would do just as well at any top-tier research institution. I would bias towards schools near Boston, NYC and SF/Palo Alto for

I think a great undergrad student would do just as well at any top-tier research institution. I would bias towards schools near Boston, NYC and SF/Palo Alto for the industry connections and opportunities. Maybe MI/PA for Auto/robotics. All top-tier institutions have the faculty and opportunities to support undergrads as much as necessary. Extremely successful undergrads, are such because of what they do outside/beyond the classroom not because of the core coursework. If you continue beyond undergrad, pick a school that aligns with your research interest or has the industry network that you need.