Do you have any standardized test scores? For example, SAT scores? If your child hasn’t taken the SAT (or ACT) yet, I suggest he take a practice exam and see how he scores. The top 1% in a Chinese school may be far from top 1% on an English language college admission exam, depending on English skills. I am always amazed how well some foreign students are able to do on these exams, which are difficult for native speakers, but I’m sure not everyone is able to overcome the language difficulty so well. I think you will get much better suggestions if you can provide this information. Also, if you’ve been reading this site, you will be aware that many of the top US schools care a lot about the student’s activities, not just their grades and test scores, whereas some schools weight test scores and grades more heavily in admissions. The list of suitable colleges may depend on whether your child has a strong list of activities or not.
Most of the schools suggested would not be within the OP’s budget without pretty substantial fin aid or scholarships.
University of Minnesota-TC would be and is a major research university.
Well, the international candidate has to be good enough to get in.
It’s not clear whether s/he has to be significantly better-qualified than the average successful domestic candidate, because the schools’ Common Data Set numbers don’t break out admission stats for internationals.
But have a look at the numbers on the following page (bearing in mind that they may be a couple years out of date):
http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware
The percentages of international students receiving aid at these schools (most of which are private LACs) are much higher than the overall percentages. The average award amounts also seem to be much higher. It appears that most international students at most of these colleges are paying much less than $30K/year.
Although they include some of the best colleges in America, some of these schools may be eager to boost their international enrollments. When they admit an international student, they have an incentive also to make a generous aid offer, because the student cannot get a visa to study in the USA unless s/he can demonstrate the means to cover all expenses.
That said, none of these colleges are need-blind for international students. Most are very selective. So the best way to ensure your costs are below $30K is to choose a college with automatic large merit scholarships (as long as they’re offered to internationals with your kid’s stats), or else to choose a college with a sticker price that low. Almost all colleges with sticker prices below $30K, for all students, will be public colleges. Check the Kiplinger’s “best value” page for public colleges. Click-sort on the “total cost per year (out of state)” column:
http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php?table=public&state_code=ALL&id=none&sortby=out_state_cost&sortorder=ASC#colleges
Possibilities:
University of Alabama (guaranteed full-tuition scholarships for >= 3.5 GPA & >= 1400 SAT M+CR)
Truman State ($22,605)
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Engineering ($26,586)
Minnesota - Twin Cities ($30,430)
These 4 seem to be a cut above most other schools where ~low costs are a sure thing.
However, you may find even better options, for even lower net costs, among the USNWR top ~50 LACs
(assuming you can get admitted and that you qualify for aid).
The dilemma is that while some schools might be keen to boost the number of int’l students in their student body, the schools also want geographic diversity. They prefer that all their int’l students not come from one or two countries.
The OP is from China. While the schools might be keen to give money to rare candidates from Belgium, Belarus, or Burkina Faso, the reality is that candidates from China are not rare. There are a GREAT NUMBER of them. A Chinese candidate needing FA is competing against other Chinese candidates needing FA. The OP’s child will need to be better qualified than the other Chinese candidates in a VERY crowded Chinese candidate pool.
Yes, some schools that don’t care so much about the diversity of their int’l student body, but those schools are mostly looking for full-pay students.
That’s why op is right to be targeting LACs and also probably areas such as the Midwest and south.
You need to read back and answer some of the questions that the very helpful parents have asked you on this thread.
Thanks to all of you! Dear American parents! I have got enough information and ways to answer my own question. I think my son will make a right dicision to apply for some right colleges and get a good education in the US with your help.
Many Chinese are nice and warm-hearted like you in this forum and my son has enjoyed a good experience in a host family last year.
I believe the universal value and all humanbeings will have a better future.
I invite you can travel to China someday,and I will give you any help I can, you will know a real China.
Welcome to China ! God bless you! God bless America!
Wondering I’d this isn’t a * forbidden word * thread. Especially with the refusal to answer any question and the "God bless you " at the end.
It’s certainly odd, but I don’t get that vibe @MYOS1634 but I could be wrong.
I’ve talked with WELCOMETOCHINA before on the Class of 2017 Parents thread. I think he is very genuine and has a genuine desire to find ways for his son to spend time in the US and improve his English. This was my experience with many Chinese people when we traveled in China a few years ago.
@WELCOMETOCHINA I didn’t provide information on this thread, because these are questions about which other people have lots more knowledge, and most universities in California are very expensive for internationals. But, I’m happy that your son was able to spend time with a nice host family.
Ok, sorry. 
I apologize.
Btw I think it’s really cool this parent encourages his/her son to get immersed in American culture rather than stay with just Chinese students, as often happens at some large state universities. It’s good to have a support network, but not to totally rely on it as sometimes happen, to the detriment of experiencing American college life.
I would reiterate the idea of buying the book Colleges that change lives.
Eh, I feel like I’ve been punk’d.
He may not be familiar with American culture and thinks that’s what Americans say to show appreciation.
This wouldn’t really be a great ■■■■■ topic because there’s nothing here to get anyone riled up.
Well, there are also kids who go for "let’s pretend to be someone I’m not and see how long parents will keep going, hee hee ".
But I realize op may have discussed his chikd enough on other threads that he didn’t feel he ought to repeat here and just wanted colleges.I also understand that genuine enthusiasm is hard to convey on the internet because of the fine line to snark, something that may be impossible to master in a second language.
So, I apologize.
I hope ops son finds one or two of the ctcl’s to his liking, too.
Chinese students certainly are not rare in the USA.
That does not mean they are equally well represented at all kinds of colleges.
Williams College publishes a student profile showing geographic origins of international students. China seems to be much less represented than Western Europe. http://admission.williams.edu/files/Student_Profile_2016_PDF_8.27.12.pdf
In the past 10 years, Kenyon has enrolled 3 to 5 students from China per class, until this year’s class when it enrolled 6. That’s still not a huge number. Now, I don’t know how many Chinese students might have applied, or the breakdown compared to applicants from other countries. However, I would not automatically assume that the Chinese competition to get into schools like Kenyon is as keen as it is to get into Ivies or better-known state universities.
It’s 100% certain that at many state flagships, the OP won’t get any aid at all, because many of them (including Berkeley, Michigan, Wisconsin, UNC-CH, and UVa) don’t offer aid to internationals. I doubt that the competition among Chinese students for admission and aid to the top ~25 LACs is as intense as the competition for admission and aid to the top ~25 research universities. That’s not to say that the international competition for admission wouldn’t be even less intense at nearly any state university with an OOS sticker price below $30K or so. So as I suggested above, the OP could have a look at Truman State (or maybe one of the SUNYs.)
The Williams map is showing the countries that are represented, not the number of students per country. I don’t believe for a nanosecond, as the single map pin per country might imply, that Williams has only one int’l student from China.
But if it truly the case that there is only one student per country, then that makes it even harder for applicants from china.
@WELCOMETOCHINA - I teach English as a second language in a program based at a public university. Right now about one fourth of our students are from China. If they complete our English program, they will not need to take the TOEFL, and they will be able to study either at our university or at another one that is a partner with our program. There are many similar ESL programs at colleges and universities around the US. Your son might want to consider coming to the US for a semester or a year to improve his English. That would give him a chance to look at some colleges and universities here before deciding which ones to apply to.
@MYOS1634 @Vladenschlutte Sure, my English is poor and equals to a Chinese high school student. I studied English many years ago, have a low level now, but I would like study it everyday.
I spend more time to understand your replies than native Americans and often use dictionary .
Sometimes I watch president Obama’s weekly adress, I find he like to end his adress with “god bless you”,so I think this sentence is a good wish, so I use it again.
Could you tell me what is wrong ? Thank you for you help me improve my English.
I was figuring you got it from a movie or something, but people don’t ordinarily go around saying “God bless you” except occasionally as a response to someone sneezing, and even then simply “Bless you” is more common.
It’s hard to explain but it’s just different for when the President uses it in a speech to the country. But people don’t say it to each other.
One route a decent number of internationals take is to start at a community college for 2 years and then transfer to a state system. This happens lot in California, where the path from CC to a UC is well-worn.
It’s cheaper that way as well.