Choosing Colleges for NMFs

Hi, I received a 226 selection index score on my PSAT which amounts to a 1510 and I was wondering which schools would be the best value in terms of merit aid and rankings for their business programs (econ/finance). Assuming that I become a finalist, what schools offer large scholarships and have good opportunities for internships? I have researched schools that provide great aid for NMFs (Alabama, UTD, USC, Florida schools) but I’m not sure how good internships are at those universities. TIA.

The best “deal” is U of Florida. It’s the highest ranked and the scholarship is for the full cost of attendance. There are plenty of internships, but like most public schools you will have to do some of the leg work.

There are a lot of schools that offer some money but not a full ride that might interest you.

What major are you considering?
How much are your parents willing to pay?
Are there any type of schools you are interested in or not interested in? Big state. small LAC, etc.

This e details will help a lot.

I’m looking to double major in finance and economics. My EFC is $50k but that’s too high for my family to pay. Depending on the school and its programs, they’re willing to pay up to $20k after scholarships.

I have no requirements for the type of school I’m interested in, as long as it has a reputable program for my major(s). Thanks for your help.

It’s probably best to take a step back and talk about merit aid in general:

  • You will get merit aid (NMF or based on SAT/GPA) where you are one of the smartest applicants. There is no merit aid at Harvard because everyone is smart.
  • Merit aid at your in state flagship can be the best deal.
  • You might qualify for generous financial aid at some schools. Run the Net Price Calculator (NPC) at various schools. My kid was full pay at most schools but close to half off at HYP and MIT for example.

Judging from your excellent PSAT (Congratulations!) you probably can score higher than 1510 on the SAT. There are schools that reward high SATs that are similar to NMF.

One of the best parts of a full ride like NMF to Florida is it covers everything from tuition, dorm, food, books, and spending money. Your parents might be willing to let you use some or all of the $20k a year for grad school or summer learning programs.

I’d recommend you start your search with UF, Bama, Arizona State, and Uof Miami. Bama offers some incredible deals like a bachelors and masters in 5 years. At U of Miami you can stack the $ amount of the NMF at UF with other merit aid. ASU has an excellent honors college.

There are other schools like Fordham, USC, and Northeastern that offer NMF money, but I don’t think you can get the total down to $20k.

I hope that helps!

@dazzlingberry08 Congratulations on your excellent PSAT score! For NMF full ride you might also look at U of New Mexico. U of Arizona and Arizona State don’t offer an automatic full ride for NMF but can come pretty close to that. All have honors programs. As mentioned before, UF-Gainesville is the highest ranked NMF full ride option out there but for engineering, my understanding is that as long as it’s ABET accredited, the rank of the school matters somewhat less so you can also think about fit for you if UF does not appeal. A lot of posters here rave about UCF’s honors program. I don’t know much about the school personally.

Given their locations, USC and UT-D will probably not lack for internships. I know somebody at UT-D who has had excellent career support but is not an engineering student.