<p>^^ For 2012-13, Holy Cross (USNWR #25 LAC) awarded only 5 merit scholarships. The average amount was $16,560. That would not be enough to drive the cost (~$56K sticker) down to in-state public school levels.</p>
<p>Centre College is a somewhat less highly ranked LAC (USNWR #49) that awarded 115 merit scholarships for 2012-13. The average amount was about the same as HC’s ($16,036), but Centre’s sticker price is lower (~$45K). It’s less selective than HC, too, so there would be a better chance of getting an above-average award that would drive the cost into “state school” territory. </p>
<p>It’s not clear that the OP is even interested in LACs, but this comparison shows how the market tends to work with highly ranked private schools. Unless your qualifications are extraordinary, you need to go down a bit in the rankings before you begin to get a good shot at large merit scholarships, combined perhaps with lower sticker prices, to net out at state school levels.</p>