I am feeling really down and I currently have a 3.0 gpa. Do I have a chance to get into a big school with over 20,000 people that is a top 100 which is not overly expensive? Maybe like under 30K
What are your SAT or ACT scores? In which state do you live?
What is your EFC?
What do you want to study in college?
Without knowing the state you live in and your SAT scores, we can’t help you.
OP, the short answer is yes/maybe. The average student (let’s say a 3.0 UW GPA and a 20-something on the ACT) has a lot of options. Depending on your home state, the flagship could certainly be in play.
But finances are an issue for most families. If cost were no option, yes, you’d have a lot of flagships to choose from. But for under 30K, you’d almost certainly be limited to your in-state options. It would be helpful to know your state. For instance, I’m from IL, and the U of IL at Urbana-Champaign would most likely be out of reach for you, but Illinois State, SIU, and NIU would absolutely be in play. OOS public universities are very expensive (though some have agreements with neighboring states, but these are usually not the flagships), and it is highly doubtful that they’d come in at under 30K per year.
I saw on your other thread that your SAT score is 1250. The University of South Florida might be a possibility. Not in the top 100 but pretty close (124). I don’t know if they would accept a 3.0. West Virginia University isn’t in the top 100 but is large, accepts OOS students with a 2.5 average, and would be under $30,000 with merit.