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<p>Sounds like the challenge is to find schools in that tier that offer good merit aid, in addition to a balance of arts & engineering/technology. Otherwise, why pick them over less expensive (but very good) UT-Austin? Colgate does not offer merit scholarships at all. I doubt Michigan offers much for OOS. Bucknell might work (offers some merit aid; has engineering but is not a super techie school). Lafayette combines liberal arts & engineering, offers a fair amount of merit aid, and is comfortably in the OP’s “match” territory. But again, Lafayette & Bucknell might be too small. Since the OP thinks CWRU is too small with ~4K, LACs must be pretty much out.</p>