<p>I second Denison, especially if you are a NMF (they have full tuition scholarships for NMFs). Good merit aid, good education, though 45 mins from Columbus OH.</p>
<p>Oberlin is a small highly ranked LAC that gives generous merit money.</p>
<p>Merit money is often used by the (relatively few) top LACs who give it to attract students who might otherwise go to Ivies or schools such as Stanford. It seems to me that you will probably get a broader education and social experience at your flagship state university than at the smaller schools that are most likely to give you substantial enough merit money to end up costing less than the state U. Of course you can get a good education at a lot of schools, including non-top-25 LACs, but I think if you have in-state access to a good state university it makes sense to go there if the goal is to keep the cost at $20,000/$25,000 or under. It is one thing for your parents to say that state U was good enough for them and thus for you no matter what the family income is; that is a personal financial decision. It is another matter to give up the opportunities a flagship U offers and go to a school that may offer more limited opportunities and whose main attraction may ultimately be that it is small and doesn’t cost too much. (And don’t underestimate the expense of coming home if you are far away–merit aid will probably not include airfare.)</p>
<p>I am generally a proponent of LACs and of spending as much as you can afford for as good an education as you can get, but frankly in this context it seems to me you would be getting your money’s worth to a greater extent in your state U honors program, or even just working hard at your flagship university if you don’t get into the honors program, than at an LAC far from home with a smaller pool of like-minded students and fewer classes to choose from. Neither scenario may be an entirely satisfactory substitute for the University of Chicago but at a flagship state university there is so much going on and you can make your own smaller community within the larger one and find yourself amazed by the multitude of outstanding professors and bright and talented classmates. Not as cozy as a good LAC but if you are going to use cost as a basis, I think it’s a better deal in terms of quality unless you get very lucky with merit aid.</p>
<p>-Kalamazoo
-Earlham?
-public LACs
-Ohio University’s honors tutorial college</p>
<p>Lafayette College in Easton, PA is a small (2400 students) LAC. This is a description of their merit scolarship program:</p>
<p>Lafayette recognizes its most outstanding applicants with a Marquis Scholarship. Marquis Scholars receive an annual minimum award of $20,000 ($80,000 over four years). Financial aid applicants who are designated as Marquis Scholars, and whose financial need exceeds $20,000 will receive a scholarship up to demonstrated need minus a campus job of $2,000 and a loan depending on family income (no loan for incomes under $50,000; a $3,500 loan per year for incomes above $50,000). Other special benefits of the Marquis Scholars program include:</p>
<p>a scholarship of up to $4,000 for one faculty-led study-abroad course during an interim session </p>
<p>participation in special events and activities, including cultural opportunities </p>
<p>Who Qualifies?
Lafayette seeks students who have demonstrated intellectual curiosity in addition to their superior academic achievement. Curriculum, grades, rank in graduating class, and scores on standardized tests are all considered. Furthermore, the College looks for students creatively engaged in the life of their communities and who, like the College’s namesake, have “made a difference” through significant accomplishments in school and community. </p>
<p>Scholarship recipients are typically at the top of their graduating class in the most demanding curriculum available, with SAT scores in the mid-1300s or better (Critical Reading and Math) or ACT Composite score of 31 or better. Students admitted under both Early Decision and Regular Decision are considered for this scholarship, and will be notified of their selection at the time of admission. We anticipate enrolling approximately 10 percent of the entering class as Marquis Scholars. </p>
<p>See this link for more info: [Lafayette</a> Academic Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/marquis/index.html]Lafayette”>http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/marquis/index.html)</p>
<p>Rice could be a great option - they are relatively “cheap” for a private U, and give merit aid on top of that.</p>
<p>Honors college at state U can be a good option as well (depending on your state)</p>
<p>Holy Cross-near Boston. Also Bucknell.</p>
<p>Davidson is another.</p>
<p>Rice is an excellent suggestion, too! :)</p>
<p>Hendrix College and University of Dallas (small Catholic liberal arts school–not to be confused with UTD) give a lot of merit aid.</p>
<p>Kalamazoo in MI and Hanover in IN might be good ones to look at–I’ve heard that Hanover in particular has very rigorous academics.</p>
<p>If you’d consider a christian College, Calvin College in Grand Rapids is known for its excellent philosophy dept. It’s reasonably priced and, I think, has some merit aid.</p>
<p>MD Mom, I’d like to hear more specifics about those unflattering stories you heard about Goucher since my son just applied there and is hoping for a big merit scholarship. I know they are known as a quirky, non-conventional bunch, but they have a very good reputation in some circles, even though their average student test scores aren’t the highest, and got raves as one of the Colleges That Changes Lives. Are you talking drugs? Social issues?</p>
<p>Urinus, near Philly, offers great merit aid.</p>
<p>I am a girl and am really interested in women’s colleges, actually. Probably not so much a Christian college, though…</p>
<p>I’ll definitely have to look into Macalester and Rice. Beloit and Kalamazoo look a little more isolated but I should look into them anyway, I think. </p>
<p>USC is actually on my list - it’s smaller than my state uni, but I don’t know whether or not it’s the environment I’m looking for. If I’m trying to get away from sports obsessed and something a little quirkier, that is. </p>
<p>And yes, I have considered whether it is going to be “worth it” to go to a LAC I’ll get merit aid at over my state uni…I guess that is why I’m posting here, to try and see what kind of options there are. My state uni is very strong in the sciences and business, but doesn’t really attract a lot of humanities-based kids. I also think socially it’ll be hard to fit in, but what do I know, I guess.</p>
<p>I, too, would be interested in the substance behind unflattering stories about Goucher (S is applying). I do know that the graduation rate is surprisingly low (latest CDS shows 4-year grad rate at 57% and 6-year rate at 64%), and the large number of graduation requirements seem daunting to some.</p>
<p>Definitely check out Rhodes in Memphis. Urban setting and great merit aid. A super school.</p>
<p>I’ve visited Denison, Davidson and Hendrix (all previously suggested) and would advise that these three will NOT supply the urban feel you are seeking. Also, decent merit aid extremely difficult to get at Davidson. All great schools though.</p>
<p>Washington & Lee gives 44 full tuition or full ride(not sure which) per freshmen class.</p>
<p>If OP is looking for “quirky,” I think Washington and Lee is the wrong place to look. Good school, but quirky is not an adjective that comes to mind for that school.</p>
<p>I probably live a little too close to Goucher, so I have heard the nightmare roommate stories that could probably happen anywhere. I know that Goucher is in the Colleges that Change Lives and it does offer some unique programming. Attracting quirky kids would not be a downside for me.</p>