These are some schools I am researching that have NMF tuition awards that put the annual cost of attendance at $20,000 or less. How do you think these schools rank in terms of general academic excellence and opportunities for NMFs? Just to start it out here is the list in order of US News & World Report rankings.
Fordham
Baylor
Minnesota-TC
Texas A&M
Florida State
Auburn
Alabama
Oklahoma
Arizona State
Kentucky
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
I can only speak to our personal experience with 2 of these schools, but our D1 (NMF Class of '11) did her undergrad at UMinn and got an excellent education and had plenty of opportunities. She did research, a summer internship/shadow program, tutored for multiple semesters, and got an on-campus job for her last 2 1/2 years. Her total scholarship package was a near full-ride with about $12K per year being directly from NM status. 7 for 7 on grad school acceptances, finishing her grad school program at the end of April this year.
D2 (NMF Class of '15) is a sophomore at UKy on a full-ride Patterson scholarship and absolutely loves it there. She has gotten “internship” credit for tutoring classes, has assisted in research projects, and is waiting to hear if she’s approved to head her own research project starting this coming summer. She loves the faculty in her major.
I will say that there isn’t a dedicated NM support system at either UMinn or UKy like there is at OU or Bama, and although I sometimes wish there was both of our D’s managed just fine without it.
A school that is not on your list but ranked above Miss State is UT Dallas. It basically gives a full ride for NMF and is good in the STEM areas. As far the NM program there, it is great! They cater to the NMF. You get priority for registration and housing. The advisors for the NM program are always available to the students. Some of the small things - they pay for NMF to take profs out to dinner, they give away free symphony/orchestra/play tickets which includes dinner and they have onsite social functions for NMF. My DD is going to do a 5 week study abroad program this summer mostly paid by UTD. The attention they gave her when trying to recruit her there has continued. It is a great program for her and the other NMFs, couldn’t ask for anything more.
I have a NMF student currently at OU and she is very happy with her program and the opportunities she has there. I also agree with @GTAustin that UT Dallas should be on your list.
They are all good schools. I think you need to look at the individual programs you are interested in at each school and also look at “fit”.
@vistajay As NMF here, we will visit KY for Merit week to see the Campus!
@GTAustin about onsite social functions for NMF… could you please elaborate?
also, interested in any STEM clubs
I would check with UK to see if they are still going to offer the Patterson scholarship for NMF for students who will enter in the Fall of 2018. I think there is some doubt about that.
@suzy100 We got a Letter from KY about it, and son got the Full Ride. Can not predict what happens next year for other kids.
We visited Alabama last week and were very impressed. Their NMF’s get free tuition, free room and board for 10 semesters so the aid could extend into grad school or summers. They also give extra stipends. Facilities seem top notch. Hard to ask for more.
@WISdad23 AL pays for ONE year of Dorms, 5 years Tuition, and then $3500 per year in cash for 4 years,
A student must maintain at least a 3.3 GPA to continue receiving this scholarship stipend.
also gets 
One-time allowance of $2,000 for use in summer research or international study (after completing one year of study at UA)
Technology Enrichment Allowance $1000
@sunny, at UTD my DD has mentioned that several times they had parties/gatherings for NMF. I know one happened at the beginning of the year. Another happened right before Winter Break. They do encourage NMF to take professors to dinner and the school pays for it. There are tickets to the symphony and orchestra, possible plays as well, that are available and they will pay for dinner before. There probably is more but my DD doesn’t tell me everything.
As far as STEM clubs, they have clubs for everything. I know there is an AI club, big data club, cybersecurity club, virtual reality club, women in engineering/CS clubs and there are hackathons and many technical lectures.
@vistajay what is the major?
@Wolverine86 we’re going to U of KY in lovely Lexington soon for Merit ! do you have info on Honors?
I can only speak of UMN-TC where my son is a sophomore engineering student. He is OOS, loves the school. It was great choice for him, and really good for us parents financially. We are really happy about how the whole process turned out, as it was very stressful and gut-wrenching.
Now the bad. As you know, UMN-TC decided to bring OOS tuition costs up to about $35K in 2020. It also dropped OOS tuition waiver scholarship, so you are no longer protected from substantial OOS tuition increases in the future. So your total COA may be under $20K the first year (assuming $10K National scholarship), but not likely in the following years.
Also, there is no dedicated support for NMF students like there is at some other schools. It made no difference for my son, but something to keep in mind.
Ooh! La, la! NMF, so many choices! :))
@vistajay Have you visited a few of those fabulous choices? in your 1st post, you list the rankings.
that’s great. Also, what else is important to you? (for example: weather, size of school, clubs)
follow please
http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/top-research-universities-by-state/
KY is ranked 18 in top research, among both public/private! 
@2sunny I have noticed several of your posts. Where did/will your child pick? Did you agree with his/her choice? Hope it all worked out for the best for your kid!
@ReturningFavor Yes, he chose a great college. I agree with it. Will PM.