College with strong engineering and physics programs

Hello my name is Bradley and I am wondering what school would be a good fit for me? I am a senior right now if that makes any difference.

Sat 1490
GPA unweighted 3.8 out of 4
I am an eagle scout

I am looking for a college with:
-Mechanical engineering program
-And an option for either a major or minor in physics
-Tuition and fees less than 25k/year with merit aid
-A cross country and track program
-preferably a “less urban” setting
-preferable a smaller school

I have looked at Iowa state and Michigan state, both of which I liked but I would prefer a smaller school. I have looked at Bradley and Valparaiso, both of them I liked. MSOE I did not like at all because it was in down-town Milwaukee-too urban for me. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thank you for your time and your suggestions.

I forgot to mention… I live in Illinois. UIUC is out of my price range since they are not known for good merit aid.

Schools in the midwest would be my first choice, but would also be interested in schools further away if they were a good fit.

thanks

UIUC is starting free tuition for families making under $65,000 year and they are supposed to add merit aid for 2019. Iowa state and Michigan state are solid choices for you. Michigan state you would get honors merit honors package plus other perks. Think you will pay instate tuition. You will have better opportunities then you would at Bradley or Valparaiso. University of Minnesota would be worth checking out. Also NC State. You might get a free ride or close at Alabama… Many Illinois kids are going there now.

Consider Rose Hulman if you get one of their merit packages.

Don’t forget IIT… Some kids get free rides if you are CPS and good aid.

University of Maine has a Flagship Match program that offers instate tuition to OOS residents:

https://go.umaine.edu/apply/scholarships/flagship-match/

Gannon in Erie, PA, might be an option.

Sounds like you might like state universities that are not as huge as Mich. State and Iowa State. The two that come to mind are the University of Mississippi and U of Nebraska. Both have relatively small undergrad enrollments (around 20,000 students) and compact campuses (you don’t get that overwhelming feeling you get at ISU or MSU). Both schools would give you significant merit scholarships to get the price well within your budget.

University of Alabama - Huntsville. It has a good engineering program, and offers a physics major. It also appears that you would qualify for a full-tuition merit scholarship based on your GPA and SAT score: https://www.uah.edu/admissions/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships/freshmen.

UAH also has varsity cross-country and track & field.

Case Western …but it is suburban/urban.