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

I think the OP was also accepted by Iowa State University, which I think is a great school /match.

“Our EFC is zero” - I think that would mean you chase need based Financial Aid (at schools that meet 100% of “need”)… in other words, “list price” should not scare you . Note - usually schools do not allow you to “stack” FA and scholarships.

Others can correct me if needed, since it’s been many years since we did our college research.

In general that is right, but the issue is going to be that a 29 ACT isn’t competitive at the schools that meet need.

Well, usually you can’t stack need based aid after your need has been met. Many of the schools OP has listed do not meet full need, so it is a good thing to get merit aid and then if there is still need, some of the remaining need can be tackled with the Pell, SEOG, school grants, and finally the loans.

My daughter had 9-10 types of FA, and we just stacked them up as best we could. The order of applying them also mattered and some could only be used for tuition, others for things billed by the school, and some for anything.

WPI is a private institution, there is no difference between in state and out of state tuition.

Update on this thread- I now have a 30 ACT if that helps?

Congrats on the 30! :-bd

Every little bit helps…

Talking Florida schools…

Based on last year’s results, you may now qualify for the FSU OOS tuition waiver and a freshman admissions scholarship. They have two applications date, the later being Feb 7th, so you have time, if interested.

Your score also makes it a bit more likely that UCF will offer a better merit based scholarship and the honor’s college invite. You already qualified for USF’s highest level scholarship, but the honor’s college invite is more likely (which comes with a smaller honor’s scholarship that stacks). If you’re interested in UCF or USF, apply ASAP, while funding is available.

Good Luck!

Someone interested in FSU for engineering may want to apply to FAMU also. Same engineering, so then the student can choose whichever ends up less expensive and less restrictive (in terms of scholarship renewal criteria).

University of North Carolina - Asheville has low OOS tuition. They offer a joint engineering degree with NC State. Worth checking out, kind of a hidden gem

You should try Smith – it’s a top school, has engineering, is empowering for women, is in a lively town, has lots of funding both merit and need-based, and it’s part of a consortium that includes five schools that you can freely take classes at, Amherst, UMass Amherst, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire. Free buses take you from college to college. You look perfect for Smith.

Here’s the link for the college–
https://www.smith.edu/

Here is their engineering program –
https://www.smith.edu/engineering/

Here is the search engine for finding courses at the other campuses in the consortium–
https://www.fivecolleges.edu/academics/courses