Colleges with strong engineering programs that are low cost OOS or give good merit aid with 29 ACT?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hi, I would love to have the option to go to college out of state. However, my family is low income and so it would be really hard to go to a school that has a tuition of $50,000 a year. I would love to go to a school that’s big, has lots of opportunities for research or lots of options for extracurriculars, has a strong engineering program, and is in a nice college town or city.

Someone mentioned I should post on the engineering forum for ideas.

I currently have Valparaiso, UA Huntsville, and Iowa State as my out of state colleges on the list that would be the most likely for COA. Of these, I like Iowa State the best, because it fits like all of my criteria above.

I have Michigan State, Arizona, and Arizona State on the list as well, but these are unlikely with how expensive they are.

I am in state for Ohio, so I have Ohio State, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Case Western on my list.

Here are my stats:

ACT: 29 composite E 24 M 27 R 29 S 34
GPA: 3.9 UW, 4.1 W
Class rank: top 10%
Hooks: low income, women in engineering, legally blind
Intended Major: computer science and engineering or electrical engineering
Downsides: I had to drop AP physics 1 and I failed honors precalc because my eyes got tired from ACT testing (legally blind). My guidance consoler mentioned it in her letter or rec though.
Letters of rec: English and math teachers both 10/10, my guidance consoler read them and said they were AWESOME! (Since I can’t read them.)

Honors: geometry, algebra 2, precalculus, biology, physical science, English 10
AP: Chemistry, Computer Science
DE through local community college: American History, Gov, Econ, Compostion 1, Digital Design

Awards and honors
-NWCIT Aspirations in Computing National Honorable Mention (top 10% of applicants) (11)
-Intel ISEF finalist (10)
-Grant from NCWIT to teach CS (11)
-Recognized at board of education for achievements (10,11)

  • NCWIT Ohio affiliate winner (10,11)
  • Scholarship to U of Az. through Intel ISEF

Extracurriculars

  • Taught CS to middle schoolers (11)
  • Robotics (9, 10, 11)
  • Science Fair (10)
  • Mentorship with CS Professor (11)
2

I think Eastern Michigan University was/is part of the tuition reciprocity agreement with the state of Ohio. This link indicates the agreement expired last year but a new agreement was expected.

https://www.ohiohighered.org/tuition-reciprocity.

You might want to ask at school what other out of state U’s allow residents of your Ohio county to attend as in-state students. Many of the big tens have great engineering programs but your ACT scores, especially math, may keep you out of the running for the top schools as engineering admissions are heavily weighted towards scores and grades. I would focus on adding a good number of schools from the next-to-top tier - state schools with lots of STEM support and opportunity for student growth.

3

@equationlover You would qualify for in-state tuition at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque (campus is within a few miles of the airport) under the Amigo scholarship. In state room/board/tuition is about 18-19K per year.

https://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html

Youngstown State is very affordable and your stats would qualify you for $4,000 merit scholarship per year as well as any need-based aid you might get. You would be eligible for Honors Program as well. They also freeze costs for four years, so your tuition will not increase year by year.

https://ysu.edu/content/office-financial-aid-and-scholarships/scholarships

4

@mamaedefamilia Thanks!!! I’ll look into that.

5

If your family’s income is low, then you may benefit from need-based Financial Aid. Ask your parents to look at some financial aid calculators to get estimates.

6

@colorado_mom We completed FAFSA. Our EFC is zero, so 100% we’re getting the Pell Grant. But that doesn’t help when OOS tuition is 50,000 a year (such as Penn State.)

7

maybe try some privates? I know they’re sticker prices are much higher but they tend to have more money to give as they have larger endowment. If you’re looking for a big school, I would try Syracuse, I would note that engineering isn’t what they’re known for though.

8

@bleedorangebaby I looked at Syracuse, but unfortunately their disabilities department (from what I’ve researched) does not have the best rep.

9

What eye condition do you have? Some can have an impact on which engineering fields might be a better fit.

10

@eyemgh I have ROP. And a mild case of cerebral palsy.

11

Clarkson gives good merit for females. WPI is also trying to boost their female numbers. UMaine matches tuition of your instate university.

12

University of Alabama gives good merit scholarships for OOS students – https://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.php

If you can bump up your ACT score by one point you would also qualify for an Engineering scholarship as well – https://eng.ua.edu/admissions/scholarships/

13

You should be fine with any discipline then as long as you can get enough acuity to see the fine details. Some eye conditions can effect color perception and that can impact some things. Keep up the hard work and good luck!

14

@drw4taww Unfortunately I don’t really feel like taking the ACT again. It causes me to get behind in my work at school.

But thanks for the suggestion!

15

@taverngirl UMaine seems like a cool idea and affordable.

WPI is really expensive OOS.

Clarkson sounds interesting in the fact that it is in NY. I wonder why it has so many males? Because a lot of people major in engineering?

16

I am glad to see Valpo on your list! It may be smaller than you want but it is has an excellent reputation for its female friendly engineering environment. It also gives some nice merit awards. Good luck with your search!!

17

Look into University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa. It has a strong engineering program (offering programs in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical engineering).

Currently your ACT/GPA would qualify you for their highest level OOS scholarship.

OOS tuition is $17,324 a year. They also have a few other scholarships that would stack with the Presidential Award.

https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admissions-scholarships/nonflorida.aspx

USF uses rolling admissions, but you should apply soon, while merit funding is still available (if interested).

Good Luck!

18

Thank you! @Gator88NE I will look into it. The good news is my sister is very interested in another Florida school so it is likely that I will be able to visit.

19

Yes, @Cheeringsection That’s what I heard!

20

You may also want to visit UCF, it’s engineering program is as strong and they offer OOS merit based scholarships. However, its OOS tuition rate is higher. FSU offers an OOS tuition waiver (bring tuition down to the in-state rate of $6,300 a year), but it requires a 30 or 31 on the ACT. UF is much more selective, and offers little in the way of OOS merit based scholarships.

Good Luck!