<p>I am definitely applying to RPI, and I think it's my top choice right now. The only problem is that my parents won't allow me to go (even if I get in, but that's not the point of this thread) if I can't get the price down to close to the price of a SUNY (I think that's reasonable of them, btw).
I'm almost certainly not going to be able to get enough in outside scholarships, and need won't be enough either.
So my question is, what merit scholarships other than the medal does RPI offer, and will they be enough to shave ~$25,000 a year off the price?</p>
<p>According to the site, there is the Rensselaer Leadership award, Grant, Merit scholarship, and the usual Federal loans.</p>
<p>Two years ago my son (32 ACT, 3.85 GPA, public magnet H.S.) was offered about $15,000/yr. In merrit aid. It came with the acceptance letter I believe.</p>
<p>$15K in merit (no loans, work study) is pretty common for the top applicants (top 25%?) Then there’s financial aid. Maybe a calculator for financial aid can help you figure out what it will cost you.</p>
<p>So with the typical 15K merit (if you are in the top25%) and the Stafford loans plus a job and you are at the 25K you need.</p>
<p>Thank you, but is the $15k just for medalists? I know the medalist award is $15k.</p>
<p>Also, is merit aid deducted from need aid, or are they both combined?</p>
<p>Yes, merit aid is deducted from need aid. If you get $15,000 in merit aid and it is determined that you have financial need of $25,000, then you will get the difference ($10,000) in financial aid.</p>
<p>Also, you might be interested in pages 18 and 19 of the Common Data Set. For students entering in the Fall of 2010, the average scholarships and grants for students receiving financial aid was $24,428 and the average scholarships and grants given to students who did not receive financial aid was $11,428:</p>
<p><a href=“http://provost.rpi.edu/sites/default/files/CDS2010_2011%20Final.pdf[/url]”>http://provost.rpi.edu/sites/default/files/CDS2010_2011%20Final.pdf</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>