Best merit aid schools for business major?

Parents Forum
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<p>My son has a GPA of 3.6. SAT: 2180 (1430). ACT: 33. Most classes (not all) are honors or AP classes. He plays sports, has had a part time job since he is 14, and belongs to a couple of school clubs. He is very interested in studying business and possibly law. We live in NY and he is not really interested in staying in NY but we can't afford to pay out of state costs. I am trying to figure what schools he has the best chance of receiving merit/gift aid and has a strong business program with internship opportunities and good career placement rates. </p>

<p>We are only interested in schools on the East coast. Here is a list of schools he is considering:</p>

<p>Bentley U
Northeastern U
Boston U
UMass Amherst
Penn State
Lehigh
UMaryland
UVA
URichmond
James Madison
UNC Chapel Hill
North Carolina State U
Elon U
Clemson U</p>

<p>Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>We live in NY and he is not really interested in staying in NY but we can’t afford to pay out of state costs</p>

<p>So, what is your budget for each year? $20k? more? less?</p>

<p>The “east coast” isn’t great with merit for non-NMFs to get the costs down that much. </p>

<p>I would take off UNC, PSU and UVA because he’s not likely going to get any merit there.</p>

<p>Be sure to include a couple of schools that will FOR SURE give you the merit you need, otherwise you may not end up with ANY affordable choices.</p>

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<p>What’s wrong with staying in NY State? As a NY resident you have quite a few choices ranging from (admittedly commuter) schools in the heart of the most exciting city in the world to public LACs in rural areas. Given that your son is considering both BU and Clemson, two extremely different schools, it sounds as though he doesn’t have any location preferences.</p>

<p>You may want to add American University, Byrant University (not sure if it’s at your son’s academic level), University of South Carolina ( [Non-Resident</a> | University of South Carolina](<a href=“Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina”>Apply Now - Office of Undergraduate Admissions | University of South Carolina) ), Ohio State (not East Coast, but much closer to NY both distance wise and culturally than South Carolina), Loyola Maryland, and GWU.</p>

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<p>Yes, we are trying to stay as close to $20k as possible. UNC and Uva are his reach schools, we don’t expect that work out but he wants to see who happens. As far as PSU, a good friend of ours is going there this year. He had similar grades and got quite a bit of money from them, so we thought that would be a good choice. I hear what you are saying though. That is what I am trying to figure out, what schools will for sure give him $.</p>

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<p>Nothing is wrong with NYS, it is just not his preference. He will apply to a few SUNY schools as a back up but his goal is not to need it. He definitely doesn’t want a commuter school. GWU is a possibility. He didn’t think his grades are good enough to get $.</p>

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<p>UNC-CH and UVA are the two public schools with good out-of-state financial aid. But they are likely reaches for out-of-state students.</p>

<p>Penn State is rather poor for financial aid for in-state students; don’t expect it to be any better for out-of-state students.</p>

<p>Check net price calculators.</p>

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<p>As far as PSU, a good friend of ours is going there this year. He had similar grades and got quite a bit of money from them,</p>

<p>I doubt his money award was based on his grades. If it was merit, it would be largely based on his ACT or M+CR SAT. Do you know what his test scores were? Do you know what he was given in “free money” and whether it was all merit based or need based?</p>

<p>What was his EFC? Does he live with a single parent? How much of his aid was “free money”? Often people mention “getting a good aid pkg” from an OOS when really much of it is student loans and work study…and maybe a Pell Grant if the family has a very low EFC. PSU puts very large Plus loans in their FA pkgs. </p>

<p>PSU has an OOS cost of over $45k. </p>

<p>Does your son have any schools on his list that “for sure” will give him enough money that leaves about $20k to pay? That would mean that you’d need almost a full tuition scholarship so that your $20k can pay for room, meal plan, books, fees, travel, etc</p>

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<p>You might want to consider Miami University- Oxford, OH. With your son’t stats he may qualify for half to full tuition. The Farmer School of Business is pretty well regarded.</p>

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<p>

Bryant is at the same level as Bentley, American, and several others mentioned here. It’s a hidden gem business school. Do you have knowledge otherwise?</p>

<p>If looking for big merit aid, one needs to be looking at schools “beneath their own level”. That said, I don’t think Bryant will merit down to $20k. Thought m2ck would have, deservedly, mentioned Alabama.</p>

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<p>Definitely have your son look at American. The business school is very strong, and the opportunity for internships–including paid internships–is second to none.</p>

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<p>Thought m2ck would have, deservedly, mentioned Alabama.</p>

<p>I would have mentioned Alabama but wasn’t sure when the mom said “East Coast” if she meant eastern half of the US or just NE schools…however, they do have NCU and some others on their list. </p>

<p>yes, with the son’s stats, if he applies before Dec 15, Alabama would give him FREE TUITION with his stats. His remaining costs would probably be about $15k per year if he chose the pricier Honors dorms with private bedrooms.</p>

<p>Alabama has a good B-school… Culverhouse
<a href=“Home - The Culverhouse College of Business”>Home - The Culverhouse College of Business;

<p>This scholarship is ASSURED for stats, therefore it would be a good safety because you’d know for sure it would be affordable.</p>

<p>Both the school and scholarship app are online now, and very easy to do…no essays, no LORs…takes like 5 minutes. You’d have acceptance and scholarship offer in hand probably in about a month.</p>

<p>the campus is gorgeous and there are students from all over the US…including a good number from NY…including Chardo’s son.</p>

<p>this is the scholarship that your child would get:</p>

<p>PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR</p>

<p>A first-time freshman student who meets the December 15 scholarship priority deadline, has a 32–36 ACT or 1400–1600 SAT score (critical reading and math scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of tuition or $95,800 over four years ($23,950 per year).</p>

<p>BTW…even tho the above gives a dollar amount, Alabama will INCREASE the scholarship every year that tuition increases…which is a very good thing. So, really, the amount would be worth $100k or more.</p>

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<p>Miami and Indiana are both better schools than some of the ones on the list. Merit hunting may require some flexibility on regional preference, and there are plenty of wagon train survivors from the trip over the Alleghenies to tell you it is not so bad.</p>

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<p>

Chardo, I was mostly looking at the statistics of the enrolled student data. Bryant’s SAT range is around a 500-590 with an ACT range of 22-26. Though I know many posters would disagree with me, and perhaps yourself given that you’re an alum and your son is doing well at Alabama, I do consider SAT ranges an important factor in deciding where to go, especially if the school is on the small side. Bentley’s averages are much higher with the top 25% scoring near a 620 CR and a 670 M. The ACT composite range is similar (25-29). </p>

<p>I think a student like the OP’s son would be frustrated with his peers at Bryant since when I read that someone takes mostly honors or APs, I assume that he’s trying to get away from his less academically serious peers. Fwiw, I consider American students on par with, if not slightly better than, those at Bentley.</p>

<p>As an alum, do you agree or disagree with my evaluation?</p>

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<p>His friend had a 3.75 GPA and SATs in the 800 range. It was definitely not need based. He got about $10000 in “free” merit aid. Idk exactly what his EFC is but it would be fairly high. </p>

<p>As far as my son, that is what I am trying to figure out. How do I know which schools if any on his list will “for sure” give him money?</p>

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<p><a href=“Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com”>Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com;
If your son’s scores fall in the top 75%, he’s likely to receive merit at schools which award it to more than a trivial percent of freshmen. There are other schools which flat out guarantee merit assuming your son applies before the deadline. Alabama is one of those institutions.</p>

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<p>Are there other schools more in the northeast/mid-Atlantic range that give merit aid comparable to Alabama? That is a little too far for us as it would require a plane ride to get home, which could get very costly. Va and NC are far but still within driving range. </p>

<p>We had talked about American but he didn’t think he would qualify for money. He loved Bentley but again, will he get money?</p>

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<p>Are there other schools more in the northeast/mid-Atlantic range that give merit aid comparable to Alabama? That is a little too far for us as it would require a plane ride to get home, which could get very costly</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>The amount that you’d be saving at Bama would more than pay for some airfares. The cost to attend Bama would be $15k or less. If you had to spend $1500 a year on airfare (high estimate), you’d still be well under a $20k budget. And, wherever your child goes OOS, there will be some travel costs. </p>

<p>And, when I say $15k or less, that’s for frosh year. For later years, the cost could be well below $15k since meals plans and housing costs are often cheaper after frosh year. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t cross off a school due to air travel if the merit is that large.</p>

<p>visit the popular Bama forum here on CC and you’ll meet other NY folks…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Good point. I’m not ruling it out but I would like to know if there are other schools that offers similar merit aid.</p>

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<p>Bama is the highest ranking school to offer that much assured merit (full tuition) for those stats. </p>

<p>there are some lower ranked schools that might give that much merit.</p>

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<p>Look at Ohio State. Not assured merit but his numbers would be competitive.</p>