Top-tier schools for Engineering?

This is extremely biased since I'm a student there, but Georgia Tech is not a bad place to look. They're top 10 in most disciplines, have an excellent reputation, and are relatively "cheap". My personal advice is that you're likely to get a great education anywhere you go so choose a school that makes you happy because you'll get a lot more out of the college experience. Just be prepared to work really hard wherever you go.