<p>My advice would be to look within leagues that have very strong programs, but at the schools with relatively weaker teams. </p>
<p>For example, NESCAC-- some NESCAC schools (Wesleyan, Middlebury, & Tufts) are VERY strong (and academic) D3 Lax schools. Maybe too high a level of lacrosse for you. But at other schools they play (Hamilton, Colby, Trinity, etc) you might be recruitable and all of them are very good schools. It is my personal theory that nobody in the middle of the league rankings wants their team to get whipped by a powerhouse team season after season and thus a good player will be recruited.</p>
<p>If money is an issue beyond "need," you will need to shoot for schools that give out 'merit' awards to scholar athletes. You'd need to be in top ~15-20% of SATs and GPA as well as a top athlete to get these awards.</p>
<p>You can google NCAA D3 Lacrosse regional and national rankings and you will get more ideas for reach/match/safety schools offering lacrosse.</p>