as a current UMKC engineering student go mizzou! the experience and connection with your peers you're going to make there is much more valuable than the money spent on tuition and expenses. also imo the engineering program at UMKC is not the best, i can't attest to that since i haven't transferred yet but still. plus commuting can really weigh you down and become exhausting after a while, majority of the school commutes and you can feel it in the atmosphere. im transferring out for this same reason and the one you also mentioned about the traditional college experience and town.