<p>I am looking for schools for my son. He is thinking of majoring in Engineering at this point. His Stats:ACT 32, GPA 3.85 unweighted, 4.58 weighted. 9 AP's and all honors classes. Decent ECs. We live in Illinois. UIUC doesn't interest him much, is expensive and does not offer much aid. He would love to go to school in California or in the North East. I am looking to pay about 15-20,000 per year and have him take his loans each year in addition to my 15-20,000. His List so far includes: Alabama, Villanova, Notre Dame, Tulane, Duke, Boston University and Hofstra (because they sent a free app). I am not sure why he chose some of these schools but I have used net price calculators for all of them. I would like to find a few schools to add so he has some choices in the spring. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Hmmm…UIUC is too expensive at about $30k per year, so you need to have a net cost that is significantly lower… (Actually, a number of IL families find UIUC too expensive…cuz it is. lol )</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Calif and the NE are lousy places for good sized merit at schools with eng’g that will get costs down to what you want.</p>
<p>When you do the math, your child needs nearly a full tuition scholarship to get costs down to the intended budget.</p>
<p>Santa Clara might give him about $20k per year, but the remaining costs would be $35k+. </p>
<p>USD would give him about $20k per year, but again, the remaining costs would be too high.</p>
<p>USC won’t likely give any merit unless maybe he retests and gets a 35/36…and even that’s no guarantee. Small merit won’t be enough, since it would get applied to need anyway. :(</p>
<p>As you probably already know, merit gets applied to NEED first, so less likely going to get enough merit from the NE or Calif schools to apply to “need” to get costs down to about $20k per year. </p>
<p>Notre Dame gives almost no merit out. What did the NPC indicate? </p>
<p>He could try UDayton where he’d get some assured merit, but probably not enough to get costs down to needed amounts.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that Bama is your financial safety because remaining costs would be about $13k per year…with the priciest dorms. Have you visited?</p>
<p>Miss State would also give him large merit, but would be less appealing than Bama.</p>
<p>What about one of the directional state schools (SIU or Northern Illinois)?</p>
<p>RPI…ask his guidance counselor about the metal awarded as a junior…[The</a> Rensselaer Medal :: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/admission/freshman/rpimedal.html]The”>The Rensselaer Medal | Admissions)</p>
<p>case western…yes, its in Ohio, but they give great money for high stats</p>
<p>Case Western and RPI are excellent choices but most of the merit awards are 10-20K, typically not enough to bring the cost down to the level of a state school. WPI too.
Did you run the NPC for Northeastern? RIT, Drexel?
Check the Kiplinger’s list to see who gives the highest average merit awards but also look at what % of students get merit awards…
[Kiplinger’s</a> Best Values in Private Colleges-Kiplinger](<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php]Kiplinger’s”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php)</p>
<p>From my experience, BeanTown Girl is exactly right about the range of aid from both WPI and RPI. Two great programs but certainly pricey. And RPI is about 10 more costly that WPI.</p>
<p>As for other schools, at one time U of San Diego was known for generous awards, particularly for students whom provide regional and ethnic diversity. U Minnesota Twin Cities provides cheaper OOS tuition than its midwestern peers, but most public schools don’t offer a load of cash to non-resident applicants anyhow. I suggest you look to private schools with established reputations or schools whom are in the midst of putting a lot of money into enhancing their engineering departments. For example, G. Washington University is erecting a new building and expanding its engineering school. Depending on your grades and scores, U Tennessee-Knoxville could be an option (brand new engineering building). One of Lake Jr.'s Materials Science professors got his doctorate from U Tennessee and he raved about when we met at the parent’s orientation. Since you’re a midwesterner, take a look at U of Akron’s engineering departments. Very solid program that produces more than its share of doctorates. The Material Science engineering (especially Polymer Science) there is excellent.</p>
<p>Meant to say “10 GRAND more costly than WPI.”</p>
<p>UAkron may give some merit. it gave a friend’s D some for similar stats. However, be aware that it is a commuter school and an OOS student may get lonely. My friend’s D only went for one semester because she was too lonely there coming from OOS. She went there because that was her parents’ school (they had been commuters) and they naively thought she would love it like they did.</p>
<p>Good point Mom2ck. Wright State, local directional U with a fantastic engineering program, will give a very good scholarship for the OP’s stats but it is mostly a commuter school.</p>
<p>Could try Pitt? I have two in engineering there with significant merit making it about par with state univ. Typically need a 1450+ and top 5% to get good merit but that keeps rising each yr. App is exceptionally easy (not common app). Best merit also goes to apps submitted before Nov. (rolling admissions)</p>
<p>The usual lists of merit scholarship schools:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918</a></p>
<p>South Dakota School of Mines and Technology would be affordable at its (relatively low) list price between your contribution and his direct loans or work earnings. South Dakota State University would be even less expensive.</p>