My family makes 85k a year but my parents, having 3 college-attending/bound sons, can afford to pay only for board (food), books, transportation, and supplies. I have good grades and test scores (3.8 UWGPA, 4.5 WGPA, 33 ACT and 2200 SAT). It seems like UMD and UVM are mentioned a lot for full/near-full rides, as are LACs like Haverford and Hamilton. I don’t want to have more than 12k in loans ler year. What colleges seem to give the most full rides to students like me?
Any links are welcome, sorry if this thread is a repeat
@gandalf78 Since both my family’s contribution is low and my grades are good, a mix of need- and merit-. The problem with need- is that my EFC is about 10k even though it is actually going to be a lot less. Connecticut is my home state, and I plan to study either bioengineering, psychology, or neuroscience.
Schools commensurate with your stats normally don’t give merit aid. One school comes to mind and that is Washington & Lee where 10% get the Johnson Scholarship which is a free ride plus a stipend of 7k a year. This school is already hard to get into so I imagine that award is really hard.
If you look at schools ranked a bit lower the merit money starts to show up. However, I think you will find that need based aid is still more.
Some southern schools like South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia would probably have good merit packages for a top student like yourself.
You mentioned Hamilton, look at the other NESCAC schools and definitely Holy Cross. Colgate and Lafayette as well.
Cornell might also be a good match for you and financial aid is usually very strong there.
How about Alabama? You would automatically qualify for a presidential scholarship there (25K/Yr with a total COA of 40k). It would get your COA down to about 15K per year. If your parents could cover, say, 5K, that’s only 10K in loans you would take out per year.
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like UMD and UVM are mentioned a lot for full/near-full rides,
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I don’t think so. I’ve been around CC for awhile and I’ve never heard those schools mentioned as likely sources for full or near-full rides…not at all. Maybe some partial tuition awards, but not likely enough to get costs down to what you need. And, I’m not sure if those schools have any “assured” awards. Do they???
You need to apply to some schools with HUGE ASSURED awards.
What is your PSAT???
If your parents can pay for books, meal plan and travel, then you will be responsible for tuition and dorm.
For you to get most/all of tuition and dorm covered, you’re going to need AT LEAST a full tuition award so that your parents and a small student loan can cover the rest.
Can you work/save over the summer for “pocket money”.
What is your major and career goal???
Alabama is probably the highest ranked school that will FOR SURE give you free tuition. If you’re an eng’g or CS major, then you’d also get $2500 stacked on top.
@mom2collegekids PSAT was 2160, got commended but not a finalist/semifinalist.
I work, but it’s only part time bc of ECs.
I would like to work in bioengineering or psychology, maybe neuroscience. Bama does have a great deal with the guaranteed free tuition.
UMD and UVM have never been mentioned for full tuition scholarships. Also, UVM’s scholarships are not a sure thing. Like they are there and OOS applicants are automatically considered for presidential and trustees but that range of money they choose to give you is not enough to fund your way through.
This forum has a huge bias towards Alabama for its affordability for higher students, BUT they do have a good deal.
UMD does give out full-tuition scholarships to some kids, it seems, but they are competitive/tough to get. Same with Pitt (and Emory, Vandy, Wake, Tulane, Miami, SMU).
Also look at Nebraska. We’ve received a number of solicitations touting their scholarship awards. If you improve your SAT/ACT you may qualify for more.
