Are there other schools my son should consider if looking for merit money?

I am not sure but I heard that Drexel was/had ended the NMF program.

With Fordham, the Bronx campus is in a rough area but is a beautiful enclosed campus. The full tuition is a wonderful deal. For us, however, it still ended up being about 20k per year because room and board are very high (compared to our state schools and other offers at privates) and because of general spending money for D in NYC, travel cost to and from NYC as well as the cost for us to stay there, even if only 2 times a year at move in/out, to see D. Still, a very good deal but those were the other costs we calculated after they generously provided full tuition.

I too am anxious to see what your son chose, @txstella!