<p>FYI, “lowest” merit scholarship at University of south carolina that gives full OOS waiver is McKissick, ave. SAT 1360. Two other scholarships are available for lower stats that reduce OOS cost. Look on admission page for money matters for list of scholarships. USC is a bargain for some states even at full OOS cost. If you can be national merit finalist, there is automatic scholarship that can be stacked with other merit.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for replying. I learn so much from following all of these conversations. Thank you for your time.</p>
<p>USC OOS is high now, without the merit award. It’s getting tougher to find good deals, let me tell you.</p>
<p>The University of South Carolina is also looking for an average weighted GPA of 4.31 for the McKissick Scholarship.</p>
<p>[University</a> of South Carolina - Financial Aid and Scholarships](<a href=“Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina”>Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>“Dreaded PA?” I would give anything to be back in PA! I grew up in PA, but ended up moving to NJ as an adult due to my husband’s job. You think PA is bad? Try living in NJ!! We will have three kids in college this fall. We have actually encouraged the kids to go to OOS schools in PA because they cost the same as in-state schools in NJ!! We are also encouraging them to leave NJ because it’s just too darn expensive to live here. Our plan is to move out of this state ASAP!</p>
<p>*We have actually encouraged the kids to go to OOS schools in PA because they cost the same as in-state schools in NJ!! *</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you sure about that? I think you’re badly mistaken.</p>
<p>Instate tuition at Rutgers is $13,000.</p>
<p>OOS tuition at Penn State is $29,000</p>
<p>OOS tuition at UPitt is $26,000</p>
<p>where are you getting your info if you think OOS at a PA school is cheaper than instate in NJ. Your source is very wrong.</p>
<p>Just to add that BobWallace has generously added a thread to our forum of those state schools that are research schools, that have low OOS tuition. Some good stuff there, and some schools to consider. I was WRONG in post 18. There are some schools out there at the right prices too. </p>
<p>Thank you again, BobWallace for the research and sharing this great info!</p>
<p>Cleveland State vs Pitt is more than $4K difference and if they throw in scholarship it can even be sweeter. Kent state and Bowling Green are more than PSU but if they throw in some sugar, which PSU does not usually do, they are good considerations. And South Dakota…I see a trip out there for me on the agenda. I’d love to see South Dakota. And a flag ship U with tuition under $10K to boot even before any possible scholarships…I’m checking it out.</p>
<p>I hear you, Irishgal, but instate NJ is still cheaper than OOS PA, unless you get a scholarship from any of the schools. My friend’s DD got an award from Temple that made it a sweet deal, Honors College and everything she wanted for a great price. </p>
<p>I don’t know about University Park, but one get get cheap digs after freshman year at Pitt, and it’s the thing to do so your kid is likely to want to do so. Lots of cheap options there, and alot of ways to cut down the food bill too. My niece who is there shares a bedroom in a house share and she is paying less than $400 a month for it including utilities and her food bill is low too, as she works part time at some eatery and gets meals there, and makes her own at home. She was one of those that the all you can eat plans make money off of as she doesn’t eat a whole lot anyways, unlike my sons who could break those plans if every one at like they do. Finding part time work is also a breeze there. </p>
<p>I don’t know what the scene is in Rutgers for all of that–living off campus, not staying on the meal plan. </p>
<p>But the killer is when they come home from college when one lives in NY, NJ or other high COL states. Finding a place to live and living expenses make short work of right out of college paychecks. All the more the reason not to borrow, by the way.</p>
<p>cpt - you are right that USC OOS has risen compared to in-state…didn’t use to be that much difference. Instate tuition now $10,000 and OOS $26000 (rounding all these numbers) with room/board/fees for either of about $11,000. With that difference, even half OOS waiver would be really good. You make out best if you are NMF or stats high enough for McKissisk. However, Sims looks for 1278 SAT/28 ACT, GPA 3.6 and gives $500 plus tuition reductions (says four year total 32K) which does reduce cost by 8k a year. This looks like in range for OP.</p>
<p>There is definite value in getting stats up.</p>
<p>I’m still wondering how/why Irishgal thinks that instate in NY is more expensive than OOS in PA. </p>
<p>Was she looking at the “semester” price of the PA schools or what???</p>
<p>SCmon12, one of my friends had a DD at CofC, a truly wonderful school, that caught her heart when she visited it sheerly by chance. With the prospect of 3 kids in college at the same time, with blended family, and steps in the scene, the chances for financial aid at privates were bleak, and even in state sleep away going to be tight. But wonders to wonders, Cof C costs were very close to their instate costs, and they decided to make a go of it.</p>
<p>About half way through, I believe South Carolina, along with some other states, jacked up prices precipitously for OOS kids. Some of the schools grandfathered in old tuition terms so the rise wasn’t so bad, but C&C really hit my friend hard, I remember. Back then, there were a lot more OOS public schools that were great deals especially in the south. As I said earlier, I could not believe what UTenn Knoxville OOS surcharges are now, and what it costs to go to any number of OOS unis that were really good deals 10-15 years ago. So check the schools on BobWallaces’ new lists now. Never know when the deal is over.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind me asking what is CofC? Sorry, I’m trying to follow all the conversations here.</p>
<p>C of C = College of Charleston</p>
<p>College of Charleston is a gem of a school in Charleston, South Caroline, a lovely city. Ten years ago, pretty much an undiscovered gem outside of the south, but now it has made a lot of the lists as a school to check out. Anyone who caught on to it before OOS supplemental cost went up got a real deal. The same with St Mary’s College of MD, Elon and a number of southern schools that were just great deals, state or private.</p>
<p>Good to know. Thank you.</p>
<p>OP, Make sure you look at the two new threads by Bob Wallace about low price Public LACs and Research Universities.</p>
<p>Speaking of CofC…it looks like if you qualify for presidential scholarship, OOS students get some tuition reduction on top of award. It isn’t worded very straight forward, but might be worth checking out. CofC is slightly cheaper to begin with than USC, but only by about $1000. Even though says over 1300 for SAT for this, a letter to this year incoming said actual average for presidential was 1350</p>
<p>Also, Clemson scholarship descriptions include part that says top applicants from OOS might be given tuition reduction, but it is much less clear on the amounts compared to USC. OP probably needs to make a tentative list and then start digging. As cpt pointed out above in comments about CofC, things can change from year to year and admission counselors are best bet to answer specific questions.</p>
<p>The three SC schools being discussed give a good illustration of the difference in merit awards available. The Common Data Set (CDS) contains information about the merit aid distributed by each college. CDS is a pain to find and read, but most of the information is compiled in better form at: [url=<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com%5DCollegeData%5B/url”>http://www.collegedata.com]CollegeData[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Here’s the picture painted for Clemson, USC, and CofC:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Notice Clemson and CofC give to about the same percentage (20%), but the average award at CofC is more than 3 times Clemson’s.</p>
<p>USC awards the aid more broadly, to nearly 40%, and still at double the average amount of Clemson.</p>
<p>So, interpreting these numbers:</p>
<p>[ul][li]Clemson gives some big scholarships to their Scholars, and practically nothing to anyone else. Clemson is a place to apply in a crapshoot for a full ride if you are at the very top of their applicant pool.</p>[/li]
<p>[li]USC gives big scholarships (full tuition, full ride) at the very top of the applicant pool, but they also give diminishing levels to most of the students in the upper half of the pool. USC is a great place to apply for some aid if you are above average and for a chance at big aid if you are at the top of the pool.</p>[/li]
<p>[*]CofC gives lots of sizeable scholarships to the top 20% of applicants. If you are in the top 10% or better you have a good chance at a five-figure scholarship.[/ul]</p>
<p>I know that the PA state universities have border agreements with NYS, because my niece got reduced tuition at Mansfield. I think that NY reciprcates but if it is like our arrangement, you have to live within so many miles of the state border, and the school has to be within so many miles of the border. Can’t think of many SUNY’s that close.</p>
<p>There are a lot of mid-to upper -mid tier private schools in PA that give very generous merit scholarships. My younger daughter attended a private school for far less than it cost for her older sister at one of the state schools (not Penn or Pitt, but one of the states).</p>