It would be more helpful to let us know the budget. An $80k/year school that gives $20k in merit for a cost of $60k might still be unaffordable while a school that costs $40k/year and gives $5k in merit would be affordable. Also, let us know if your family will qualify for any need-based aid. (Running the Net Price Calculator at a school like Harvard or Stanford will let you know, as those are generally two of the most financially generous schools.)