<p>You mention the challenge of visiting all the schools from your small town, so I thought I’d mention that on our search we are eliminating schools that we feel are too logistically difficult to get to. There were several schools that seemed like good fits, but would require stopover flights, then connecting to a bus, or a long drive from the airport…that sort of thing. I have found that some of the schools provide shuttles, but they seem to have limited and structured schedules for that. Just another factor to consider.</p>
<p>Jesuit definitely not out of the question! We have St. Mary’s in CA on the list, not sure where else to look… I like the idea of service oriented, not too conservative, diverse. Want to avoid the evangelical type schools. If its not already obvious, we are a liberal Christian family. As in, focused on justice, equality, diversity, service. Thanks jtmoney. </p>
<p>Excellent point @shoboemom. Easier to get to Atlanta, Little Rock, TX, CA, or anywhere in FL than Whitman, for example, although mileage-wise, Whitman may be closer than others. </p>
<p>FYI
<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none</a></p>
<p>Wofford College
Belmont Abbey College
Wesleyan College (GA)
Hood College
Guilford College
Sweet Briar College</p>
<p>Small Universities</p>
<hr>
<p>Willamette University
U of Portland
U of Tulsa</p>
<p>Oh, just read that you were not impressed with Willamette. OK.</p>
<p>Southern cal: University of San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Pt. Loma Nazarene, Chapman Uni</p>
<p>If you need as much as $30K/year in merit aid, then the more selective schools on your list are long financial reaches.
Your D’s qualifications are good, but probably not unusual enough to get that much money from Bryn Mawr, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Grinnell, Oberlin, Kenyon, or any other top ~40 school. Go ahead and apply to a couple of these schools, but don’t get your hopes up for that much merit aid. At Rhodes, which is a notch down in selectivity, $30K would be nearly double the average merit award. Your D’s stats are above the Rhodes averages, but maybe not far enough above average to get nearly double the average award.</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’ve run the online Net Price Calculators and you clearly don’t qualify for that much need-based aid. A family income of ~$150K, with assets typical for that income bracket, may qualify for about that amount in need-based aid from one of the ~60 schools that claim to meet full need (which do include Bryn Mawr, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Grinnell, and Oberlin).</p>
<p>If you can afford ~$30K, and don’t qualify for enough n-b aid from those schools to close the gap, then your best value may be at UC Boulder.</p>
<p>Tulsa is conservative and about 20% Greek. Possibly affordable.</p>
<p>Both of our kids went to Eckerd. Very generous with merit and financial aid. Beautiful campus on Boca Ciega Bay. Not located under an overpass. Take the virtual tour from the admissions page. Well known for their Writers in Paradise workshop every year. Emphasis on service learning, stewardship of the environment and study abroad opportunities. There is an open house on Nov. 10. What is your daughter’s intended major? PM me if you would like more detailed info. Always happy to help prospective students and parents.</p>
<p>My daughter visited Eckerd with a friend. It was not the right place for her in many, many ways, but she said that it was the prettiest campus she ever saw. No mention of an overpass.</p>
<p>If you’re going to look at St. Mary’s you could also check out Dominican University in San Rafael. Very similar in terms of students, beautiful campus and great location. St. Mar’ys is more well known for business; Dominican has an excellent nursing program.</p>
<p>I almost wonder if the overpass might have been an impression from New College. There is a highway dividing the dorms and one (new) building from the campus, and there is an overpass walking bridge between the two.</p>
<p>Shoboemom, I think you’re right. I was wondering about the overpass thing at Eckerd. But even the walking bridge at NCF is pretty minor. I was envisioning a highway overpass of some sort. </p>
<p>For 2013-14, 137 out of 451 first-time full-time freshmen received merit aid, averaging $14,246 per recipient.For students who received need based aid, Eckerd on average met 85.9% of demonstrated need. Source: 2013-14 Eckerd College Common Data Set.</p>
<p>You can compare these amounts to the numbers for 100 other LACs listed on the Kiplinger’s site.
<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none</a></p>
<p>We visited Eckerd and as you walked near the water there is a freeway to your left above the water. I did not like the freeway there, but that is me.</p>
<p>Thanks! Eckerd NPC said $19k merit for us, pretty good. Here are some of the best NPC results we got. For purposes of comparision, COA below is tuition, room and board only. </p>
<p>Cornell College (IA):
COA $46k
Merit $22
Net Price $24k</p>
<p>Hollins (VA women’s), Sweet Briar and Agnes Scott:
all exactly the same as Cornell College ($24k after merit)</p>
<p>Eckerd
COA $49
Merit $19
Net $30k</p>
<p>Rollins (FL)
COA $56
Merit $25
Net $31k</p>
<p>New College of FL
COA $39
Merit $19
Net $20k</p>
<p>Stetson U (FL)
COA $51k
Merit $25k
Net $26k</p>
<p>University of Redlands (CA) and Whittier (CA) - exactly the same:
COA $53k
Merit $25
Net $28k</p>
<p>Hendrix
COA $47k
Merit $25k
Net $22k</p>
<p>Millsaps
COA $45k
Merit $25k
Net $20k </p>
<p>Westminster (UT)
COA $38k
Merit $17k
Net $21k</p>
<p>Interestingly, although D does not like the idea of the Midwest (and cold in general), she is very interested in Cornell College. She likes the idea of one class at a time, I think she would do well with that. Similar to Colorado College (which is out of our price range). Anyone have any experience with Cornell College?</p>
<p>You might look at Davidson College in North Carolina. From their website: “Through The Davidson Trust, we meet 100 percent of your calculated financial need entirely through grants and student employment.” Additionally, they have some competitive merit scholarships available: <a href=“Scholarships | Davidson”>http://www.davidson.edu/admission-and-financial-aid/financial-aid/scholarships</a></p>
<p>@shoboemom - Part of NCF’s “grungy” appearance is due to its commitment to environmental sustainability. We visited Pitzer, in California, which had a price-tag of over $60k per annum, and its use of native plants and water conservation reminded us of NCF. NCF struggles with funding shortfalls perpetually, but they do not dedicate a lot of resources to lavish facilities and athletic programs. It is definitely not a school for everyone, but I don’t think the absence of meticulously-groomed grounds should discourage anyone from applying. Eckerd has a beautiful waterfront location, also, but my son was unimpressed by its academic and intellectual atmosphere. We liked the city of St. Petersburg, however. NCF’s campus is immediately adjacent to the Ringling Museum (very good, small museum, with excellent internship opportunities) and the Asolo Repertory Theater (which has a national reputation), and Sarasota has a vibrant arts scene for a small city, along with some of the nicest beaches in the continental U.S. Saint Petersburg has two terrific art museums downtown. Eckerd is between the city center and St. Pete Beach, and there is a trolley system. </p>