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@julia161 The NIU Presidential scholarship for at least a 33/3.75 with a full ride- tuition, room & board, books. <<<<
If you get an ACT 32, then there are better schools that will give you large merit.
UIC offers a tiny amount of merit aid. The issue is that you are out of state and some of those scholarships are for in state residents only. You would qualify for the out of state tuition waiver though, the UIC Chicago grant. https://admissions.uic.edu/undergraduate/tuition-financial-aid
The Honors College has its own scholarships. http://www.uic.edu/honors/learning/scholarships.shtml
Have you thought about Edgewood College in Madison? DS has a friend starting there this fall and we know another student as well who got tons of merit aid. One is pre-med and the other wants to be a PA. Yes, the school is private and tuition looks high on paper, but it might work out in your favor.
I did not know that ISU gives in-state tuition to WI residents.
OP, my daughter really liked ISU and Normal, when we visited recently. Again, a small town surrounded by, yes, more corn and soybean fields, but with more of an upscale suburban feel - yet walkable. (Normal, that is - Bloomington is a bit more run-down, but also has some good places to shop/hang out)
But ISU is practically IN Uptown Normal. Everything is within walking distance, except the mall, which can be reached via the bus system that is free to ISU students.
For your stats, OP, you would very likely get a scholarship at ISU, as well.
IL Wesleyan may also be an option if they give you a merit scholarship, although you’d probably still pay close to 20k or more in tuition alone. The campus is in Bloomington, but walking distance (about 15 min…) to ISU’s campus and uptown Normal.
Don’t know how much further south OP is looking, but…
University of Kansas gives in-state tuition to OOS students with a 3.5 and 32 ACT.
University of Missouri-Columbia also gives in-state tuition to MSEP member students, don’t think there are any special requirements except being admitted to the university.
I’d also recommend Miami of Ohio, in Oxford OH, if looking for decent merit aid.
Mizzou is no longer a part of the MSEP, however, Missouri State is and gives great scholarships to OOS students (instate tuition with a 23 on the ACT) and is in a great, up and coming town!