@LoveMyPuppies - yes he is an A student but the merit goes to kids with much higher test scores and ranks. There are plenty of kids in NY with all AP classes getting all A’s and A+'s who are top 1% with test scores well into the 99%. Those kids are applying to the same schools as your son ( as safeties) and they, not your son, will be getting the merit. I am not trying to sound harsh and I apologize if I do- that is not my intention.
He has a bunch of schools on his list where you will be full pay. I do not know how much your son would get at Rider, but he would get something. The problem is that in his quest for merit that will bring the cost down th $25,000, he will end up getting money from a school that is nowhere near as nice as Buffalo ( which is an underrated school as I mentioned).
Tell your son he can apply to those expensive out of state schools and if he gets money he can go. Make sure he applies to Binghamton and Buffalo. Have him apply to Towson, Rider, TCNJ ( merit plus Stafford loan may make it affordable and it’s a great school), NC State, UNC-W, Ohio W. These are all good schools and maybe they will give him money.