<p>It seems like there must be a lot of parents out there who feel like I do: my D's college list is populated by LACs and smaller private universities that all seem to cost around $50,000 per year for tuition and room/board. She isn't keen on our StateU's, and at some point in her college career we'll be full pay. No guarantee of merit aid, either. So I'm looking for ideas! Can you share your list of colleges that are selective, academically challenging, and all-around great, but slightly less expensive than the typical top 50? Please add to my list.</p>
<p>My very short starter list shows tuition, room, board and mandatory fees; excluding books, travel, etc.:</p>
<p>Rice [43,300]
Davidson [45,024]
Whitman [$46,200 - over my 45k threshold, but very close!]
UNC [I don't know the exact amount, but its OOS tuition is very reasonable]</p>
<p>Muhlenberg in Pa just about makes it at 45k to 47k depending on the meal plan, syracuse comes in at about 47K…remember once your kid becomes a sophmore or jr they often opt out of college dorms and live off campus in a rented house with others which often is cheaper than college R&B…here in NY there are smaller colleges like Manhattan college ( a suburb of NYC) COA is 35K incl R&B</p>
<p>According to their website, the comprehensive fee for Grinnell for 2009 -2010 is $45,012. They are reputed to also offer merit aid. </p>
<p>An “under the radar” school is St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota (the same town as Carleton). Their comprehensive fee is $43,700 and they have a link on their website for merit scholarships. It is a “Colleges That Change Lives” school but I rarely see it mentioned on CC.</p>
<p>The University of Puget Sound posts their fees as $44,990, just squeaking under your $45k limit.</p>
<p>Good additions! I looked up UNC and UVA costs, which reminded me why they’re so popular.</p>
<p>Rice [43,300]
Davidson [45,024]
Whitman [$46,200]
UNC [30,453]
UVA [41,090]
Grinnell [45,012]
St. Olaf College [43,700]
University of Puget Sound [44,990]
Muhlenberg [45 to 47k]</p>
<p>And let me second William & Mary: total OOS cost is expensive, for a public school, but still just under $40K for tuition, room/board, and fees. “Selective, academically challenging, and all-around great,” as you say - and apparently quite the football school this year, having defeated UVA 26-14 yesterday! :)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Would she be interested in other public universities? The Western Undergraduate Exchange will give your daughter discounts on tuitions for various public colleges in other western states – its worth checking out. Also, the SUNY’s are very reasonable with out of state tuition. </p></li>
<li><p>Sometimes, when finances are involved, the issue isn’t what the kid is “keen on”. Both of my kids wanted private colleges, but I told them that they HAD to apply to our in-state publics as well as the private schools they wanted, and private schools depended entirely on financial aid. I told them essentially that my bottom line financially was the COA at our state flagship – they could attend wherever they wanted, but I was only kicking in $X. </p></li>
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<p>Since we are eligible for need-based aid, both my kids were able to attend private, out-of-state colleges within the limits I had set – but my son dropped out of his pricey LAC after 2 years and later completed college at a state U, on his own dime – where he had an experience that certainly exceeded our expectations. So don’t sell your in-state publics short. Do help your daughter understand the difference between what she “wants” and what she can afford; and definitely (as a parent), don’t fall into the trap of being unduly influenced by hype or marketing. That is – it is your $$ – so take a very long, hard, objective look at what each college really offers before signing on to pay.</p>
<ol>
<li> DO encourage your daughter to look for schools that offer merit aid – you may be surprised, especially if you are willing to pay $45K annually. A $5-$10K merit award at many schools would be enough to bring things down to your price range, and those type of awards really aren’t that hard to come by.</li>
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<p>I was fascinated to see that they included the average number of AP/IB classes taken in the profile. I have not seen that done by other schools.</p>
<p>Earlham College in Richmond Indiana might be just slightly over $45K. In COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES I remember reading it attracts a large number of children of college professors. That statistic made an impression on me.</p>
<p>Centre College in Danville, KY. Comprehensive fee is $39,000 with college-estimated indirect costs of $2,400. From the school’s website “Alongside a generous need-based financial aid program, Centre offers merit-based scholarships to over 60 percent of each freshman class, based on academic achievement, extracurricular accomplishment, and personal character. All students who apply for admission by February 1 are automatically considered for all merit scholarships. These renewable four-year merit scholarships range from $9,500 to full tuition each year.”</p>