Need help with college list (and merit aid)

I will be a senior this fall, and need major help narrowing down my search. I originally had a list all planned out, but my best friend informed me she’s likely studying internationally, and now I don’t know where I want to go. I know it sounds dumb to base where I was applying off of her, but for me it worked.

uw gpa: 3.96? or higher
wgpa: 4.6
ACT: 35 composite (36E 35M 36R 34S)
SAT II results are yet to come
major: biology, with neuroscience minor
In-state Texas. I don’t want to stay in Texas, but I will if I have to.

family expects to contribute at MOST 30-35k a year total
I am not NMF or NMSF.

I don’t want to go somewhere that’s a stereotypical college town, like College Station for Texas A&M. I prefer urban settings.
I also don’t feel comfortable going to a small college (<5,000 students)

Research opportunities and study abroad are important to me.

Thank you. I appreciate all suggestions.

Look at Rhodes College…i think you’d get great merit there.

Elon in NC. Study abroad is huge there, and they give merit, but it is not urban:(.

Temple in Philly?

Your family can contribute ~$30K, but what is your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)? If you don’t know, run a few Net Price Calculators with your parents. You could require up to $35,000 in merit aid per year, so your list needs to be constructed based on that info.

Are there any schools from your original list that you’d like to keep?

Trinity University in San Antonio. Creighton U in Omaha. Elon, mentioned above, is not urban, but lovely. Tulane in New Orleans.

Those are several options where good merit aid can be obtained, in larger cities.

Good luck.

@Dunboyne - according to a few calculators, my EFC is right around 25K.
As for my original list, I’m still considering Pitt and Minnesota.
Tulane and Miami have been recently added.

Any other suggestions? Thanks coldinminny, mom2collegekids, and hrsmom for ideas… I will look into those schools.

Emory University in Atlanta; although any merit aid from Emory would likely be awarded on a very competitive basis.

University of Denver; I know a couple of students there who have gotten some decent merit aid.

Boston U, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, U Miami, Northeastern, Pitt, U Rochester, USC, Stevens Tech, Temple, Tulane, Vanderbilt.