By the way, your stats qualify you for a full tuition scholarship at the University of Alabama. Add your dad’s 15k to that and you have a full ride scholarship. No matter how you look at it, a bachelors degree is accredited exactly the same whether you pay 50k or $250k for it.
Thank you. That info is really helpful. Could senior/experienced members kindly suggest some good schools (In IL as well as out of IL) where I could get close to a free ride with my dad’s 15K please? As I stated earlier, my stats are ACT=3.4, SAT=1500, and GPA=3.5). Std. test scores are from my first attempt. I am painfully learning that standard test score in my case doesn’t really matter much now. Therefore, I am not planning to attempt standardized tests again.
What are your in state options? I would start there first.
I don’t know if the prices on this list are current, but you could run the NPC on these places and see what works:
http://www.collegecalc.org/lists/illinois/most-affordable-in-state-tuition/
Look at Iowa State. You would have an auto scholarship there that should bring you in under budget.
U Texas at Dallas, U New Mexico, U Alabama at Huntsville
Truman State (highly regarded school), Southeast Missouri State (full tuition for OOS starting at a 27 ACT), Missouri State (very reasonable COA with auto merit- try out the NPC on this one), Iowa State.
Is 3.5 your weighted GPA? If not, what is your weighted GPA.
Can you commute to your public 4 yr?
Can you commute to your public 4 yr?
Yes, I can.
weighted is 3.8
I haven’t read all the comments…
You may have to “come down a bit” in your expectations. There are colleges where you’d have a $15k net cost.
What is your major and career goal?
Edited to add…
Ok, as mentioned Alabama would give you nearly free tuition. If the College of Eng’g continues to offer it’s $2500/yr award, that will practically make the cost of tuition be free when combined with the Presidential.
Can you visit Bama? Very impressive STEM facilities.
I am considering Alabama. will talk to dad tonight about visiting. Thanks.
With a 34 ACT I’d look at Huntsville. We’re in MN and that’s in my son’s top 3. It’s a crazy hot area for tech down there. Unfortunately, they raised the bar on the merit and he no longer qualifies for a 100% tuition scholarship with a 31 ACT, but you would.
Check out Miami University in Ohio. With your stats, you would likely qualify for half to full tuition scholarship. https://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-guarantee/. Good luck!
What is your commutable 4 yr. Can you get in? ? Why isn’t that the obvious answer?
OP did a good job in high school. They have high enough stats to get tuition grants and their parents can pay room and board. They don’t seem to want to commute and dorming looks like it will be affordable.
I am assuming the commutable option is UIC which would definitely fit the budget OP has. Not sure why you wouldn’t [gratefully] take that option which would actually allow you to graduate debt free if you were willing to work to earn $3-4k a year.
University of Mississippi has good merit aid, and I agree with other poster’s on Univ. Alabama, and Alabama Huntsville. @Lancer1010 - my 17yo is a high stat kid as well, looking at chemical or aerospace engineering. We have given him the option of us paying 100% in state college costs. He is applying to the high merit aid schools listed in this thread. He is also applying for a couple of high cost ‘tippy top’ schools, but knows that the only way to go is if he also gets an ROTC scholarship.
Like others- I’m glad you are thinking about this now. Many of us ‘older folks’ have had to deal with the pain of debt, so you are hearing that in the responses- both on your behalf and your dad’s. If you are able to get through school with a CS degree and no debt, you will have far more options (and far less stress) than so many others in this country. It is a worthy goal!!
If I was his parent I wouldn’t encourage UA or UTD if he could get in down the road at UIUC or a great in state option though. Baby and bathwater etc. The question is would he be admitted?