Sigh…This isn’t hard to comprehend 
There is no ‘need aware gate’ for the vast majority of admits.
Smith, MHC, Wesleyan, Tufts, etc., are* need-blind* for 90-100% of admitted students, excluding wail lists.
Kenyon:
Tufts:
Smith:
Wesleyan:
So apparently your parents have saved around $20,000 (for $5,000 a year) but don’t plan on giving you any money out of their $130,000 income? I think you will need to discuss with them why that is, and if they are willing to change their policy somewhat.
It’s definitely possible to get need-based aid at schools like Kenyon with a $130,000 income. The problem is that even schools that meet full need (other than the very top ones) will probably expect about $5,500 in a loan from you, that $5,000 from savings, and another $15,000-$25,000 from your parents (depending on the school and your parents’ finances). So possibly something like $30,000 in all.
And the other problem is that even with a $20,000 merit scholarship (let’s say) at a school that cost $65,000 and meets full need, they would add on need-based aid to take the amount you owe down to $25,000 or $30,000 (or whatever their judgment of what you can pay is) and still expect that amount.
I don’t mean to be overly negative, but it’s difficult when a school expects parents to give $20,000 if they only give $5,000. You may to need to seriously look at schools with full tuition scholarships, or in-state schools where even a relatively smaller scholarship could make it affordable.
Look for LACs offering merit aid where your stats fall in the top 75% or so. Some ideas offhand may be Wooster, Goucher, Muhlenberg but there are lots more. And run the NPC as well.
@happy1: Pretty much impossible to get total costs down to what the OP requires even with the largest merit scholarships at those schools.
@PurpleTitan OOPS…I didn’t see the second post about family income and what parents will contribute. You are right, the OP needs to pretty much seek out full scholarships.
I think the chances of an EFC of $5,000 on a 130k income are very slim, even at well endowed schools. Run the NPCs with your parents, and tell them what is actually realistic for you, because if they won’t contribute, you’ll have to take out loans, and they’ll most likely have to cosign on them.
Sounds like the OP should be looking or merit full tuition award, and then plan on covering room and board (typically between $12-15K) from parents’ $5k, $5500 student loan, and summer job/work study.
Full tuition scholarships are hard to come by at even the LACs ranked 50-75. Denison offers them to the uber achievers – as I’ve said numerous times on CC, at Denison admitted students weekend, the full tuition scholarship kids were deciding between full pay at Stanford, Columbia etc., and the full tuition scholarship at Denison. Good stats alone are not going to be enough for full tuition awards. I’m not sure if Centre, Earlham, Knox, Kalamazoo, Wooster, Beloit may offer full tuition awards, those could be alternatives to someone who liked Kenyon.
@Midwestmomofboys: Centre does. Knox may.
Likely tough to get.
The OP may have to look at schools like Maryville and Illinois College.
Based on my daughter’s recent experience, given your family income, even with spectacular stats you’re not going to get down to $5k/year pretty much anywhere unless you manage a full-ride from one of the schools that give those to national merit scholars or a similarly very small number of applicants. However, places like Earlham and St Thomas (Minnesota) even some OOS publics like Kansas and Alabama have automatic (or close to it) scholarships that will get you down to the ±$25k/year level, and if you’re lucky enough to get some highly competitive scholarships Mt Holyoke and Muhlenberg can get you down below $20k/year. Some regional publics like Alabama-Huntsville and Central Arkansas and such may get you down still further, given your stats, but there I’m starting to move past my own direct knowledge.
new College of Florida
I know of someone who got a full tuition award at Goucher – but $5,000 still won’t be enough for room/board/transportation/books etc.
You should also look at Oberlin. They have a great English department and give nice merit scholarships for people with your stats.
ETA: just saw the parents’ contribution. I definitely agree that this student should be looking for full rides. This rules out OOS public schools like New College (suggested above).
I believe this student is from Florida…
@momofzag: The OP is from OH. See post #9.
I must have been thinking of a different thread. Sorry about that.
Those full tuition scholarships are very difficult to get at the LACs mentioned. OP, unless your parents change their tune, you may very well need to attend an in-state public, or 2 years of CC and transfer to an in-state public. Do you live close enough to any 4 year public to commute?