<p>Paying3tuitions, I agree with all you say about Buffalo. My D is a sophomore at UB and all the major snow was south of her last winter. When she told me she wanted to go to UB I was one of those saying why?? But now I have been there in spring, and summer to move her in & out and the weather is always beautiful. I and DD also agree about how nice the people are. Buffalo is a well kept secret as far as I am concerned</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on Buffalo. I know D would love being right in the city and she’s likely to be admitted to at least one of the area schools (SUNY-Buff, Buff State, Erie Cty Community College).</p>
<p>Emilybee, I agree re: smaller, rural LAC and diversity. Unfortunately, D has vetoed all such schools (for her: rural, small and lacking diversity = 3 strikes) - - but I’ll float Keuka all the same.</p>
<p>@NYC, that is why a lot of those schools give fantastic aid packages with no loans. We got $41K from Bates, plus $1600/yr work study. His COA is $3K less at Bates than COA at SUNY Bing. </p>
<p>And even though it is in Maine, Lewiston/Auburn (LA 
) is a city and a pretty gritty one at that. Only 30 minutes from Portland, too. They have increased the diversity on their campus a lot in the last few years.</p>
<p>It’s similar in feel to North Adams.</p>
<p>The cheapest OOS tuition I’m aware of is at the University of Mississippi, where my son goes. Big, beautiful, quiet, safe campus, big-time sports, and generous financial aid for OOS students because they’re trying to bolster their academic reputation. Worth a look.</p>
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<p>Part of Op’s dilemma is that she is not eligible for need based FA. So the family is looking at schools where the out of pocket cost would be comparable to in-state at SUNY.</p>
<p>University of Oklahoma.</p>
<p>"Part of Op’s dilemma is that she is not eligible for need based FA. So the family is looking at schools where the out of pocket cost would be comparable to in-state at SUNY.'</p>
<p>We were only eligible for very little, based on our EFC, which is why we were shocked when he was offered so much money! I’ve discovered that there are schools who give a lot of money to become diversified. My sister’s step son gets $38K/yr in institutional aid from Vandy because they wanted more Jewish kids from the northeast. They don’t qualify for any finaid.</p>
<p>However, Vandy does give merit scholarships, including a number of full tuition scholarships. Specifically the Chancellor’s Scholars, which are given full tuition scholarships as part of the institutions mission to build diversity.</p>
<p>Thank you sybbie - - you hit the nail on the head. (Not to mention the fact the D does not have Bates/Colby/Bowdoin stats, or stats for Vandy merit $.)</p>
<p>When I had 2 in college, we qualified for need-based aid and EFC divided by 2 made COA pvt LAC (and oos State U) at about the same as SUNY. With only one in college, we will receive some need-based aid, but end up spending twice as much for D than for her sibs (full EFC going to one school, instead of being divided b/w two schools).</p>
<p>Still, I have appreciated all of the suggestions, including lesser-known SUNY. Adding just a couple of affordable (even if they cost a bit more than SUNYs) “match” schools to the list can make all the difference in the world, come the spring.</p>
<p>(Emilybee, I don’t understand. I know that schools have a lot of flexibility in the composition of the package, but I was unaware that schools gave need-based aid beyond demonstrated need. Are you certain none of the Bates money was merit money?).</p>
<p>nyc, there are several other colleges in Buffalo that may be a match for her - Canisius and D’Youville. While they’re private, I believe they both publish qualifications for automatic merit aid on their websites and IIRC it wasn’t difficult for a few kids I’ve worked with to secure pretty good scholarships from them (though neither ended up there).</p>
<p>When we were college fair visiting for DD, 3 years ago, we met a dad from Buff State who volunteered. He said his D was LD and had less than 1000 SAT scores and a GPA less than 3.0. She got in to Buff State and was transformed, per her dad. He was such a true believer in the school, he traveled aound to various cities selling the school. My DD didn’t apply there because H has an aversion to the entire city of Buffalo, but it seemed like a great school.</p>
<p>I know another young man who is there and he enjoyed his time so much he’ll be going to grad school there.</p>
<p>Have you thought about Oswego, Oneonta or Plattsburgh? As a URM, her stats could get her in.</p>
<p>“However, Vandy does give merit scholarships, including a number of full tuition scholarships. Specifically the Chancellor’s Scholars, which are given full tuition scholarships as part of the institutions mission to build diversity.”</p>
<p>That might be but what he got wasn’t merit or the CS.</p>
<p>“(Emilybee, I don’t understand. I know that schools have a lot of flexibility in the composition of the package, but I was unaware that schools gave need-based aid beyond demonstrated need. Are you certain none of the Bates money was merit money?).”</p>
<p>Yes, I am 100% certain because Bates doesn’t give any merit money. </p>
<p>My sister’s step-son got the same deal at Vandy, except for being Jewish and from the Northeast instead of Asian. He qualified for no need based aid. </p>
<p>Vandy publicly announced several years ago that they were actively seeking to get more Jewish kids from the northeast and they got them there buy giving them gobs of money to attend. </p>
<p>Private universities can and do give institutional aid (or discount tuition) to anyone they want and they can give as much as they want to give regardless of one EFC. </p>
<p>From another thread:</p>
<p>[Best</a> Values in Private Colleges, 2010-11](<a href=“Kiplinger | Personal Finance News, Investing Advice, Business Forecasts”>Kiplinger | Personal Finance News, Investing Advice, Business Forecasts)=ALL&id=none</p>
<p>I read at least one other post that mentioned the “diversity” factor. Use it to your/her advantage. There are many schools that will bend over backwards to admit a student of color to boost their stats. Look for some small LAC’s and apply. Most app’s are free online so send them in and before you know it she will be getting paid invitations to visit.</p>
<p>Alfred University (NY) would be considered rural & would run about 37k/year, depending on the major as the School of Art & Design & certain engineering majors are through NYS, so the tuition is less for NYS residents. </p>
<p>A regional university, established in 1836, 2,300 undergrads, small classes-know your professors, Division III Athletics, No Greek Life, housing all 4 years, merit aid, need-based aid, shuttles to Rochester airport at peak break times, buses to NYC at peak break times, nice friendly village of Alfred, NY. Many clubs & organizations, brand new performing arts center. AU is always seeking a more diverse student body. All students may have cars. </p>
<p>USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Fiske Best Buy
Princeton Review’s Best 376
Fiske Small schools strong in Engineering
Fiske Small schools strong in Art & Design
Princeton Review’s Best 300 Business Schools
Fiske Guide 2012 </p>
<p>School of Art & Design
College of Liberal Arts
School of Business
School of Engineering </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Information for Undergraduate Freshmen](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Undergraduate Cost of Attendance](<a href=“http://alfred.edu/finaid/undergraduate_cost.cfm]Alfred”>http://alfred.edu/finaid/undergraduate_cost.cfm)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Academics](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/academics/]Alfred”>Academics | Alfred University)</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Admissions : Class Profile](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/class_profile.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/class_profile.cfm)</p>
<p>If your child has any interest go visit & see some other schools at same time. </p>
<p>Many kids I have met through my daughter there do hail from all 5 boroughs & Long Island & New Jersey.</p>