I attended a less prestigious school for undergrad, a more prestigious school for grad school, and now I work at a well-regarded software company. I think unde

I attended a less prestigious school for undergrad, a more prestigious school for grad school, and now I work at a well-regarded software company. I think undergrads in a more prestigious and better-funded department likely have more scheduling choices for upper-division courses. They can follow their passions more easily and delve more deeply into rigorous material as a result. A prestigious institution will also tend to have more fellow students are able and motivated. I am not very entrepreneurial but I guess this would make startup launches more likely and more likely to be successful. It is certainly true that students in elite CS programs are more likely to get great internships. I believe this is due to a combination of their merit and their connections via peers, alumni, and faculty. My impression is that especially if you're interested in the startup world, credentials aren't very important. But especially because you are not surrounded by people with connections to Silicon Valley and top tech companies, if you stay where you are, you will have to find in yourself tremendous motivation to hone your knowledge & skills, apply for internships at places where the best people work, and really shine in every interview.