Please tell me about some great schools where the COA is under $35,000 a year

Parent Cafe
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<p>I posted this on the Parents forum rather than the College Search forum because it seems to be the parents who are most aware of money issues. I'm looking for a school for my '11 who really really wants to go to school out of state.</p>

<p>I had the system down with her older brother - he was applying to entirely different types of schools and received lots of merit aid. I looked up the COA of about 20 schools that might be a fit for D and lots had a COA well over $40,000 with few merit aid opportunities (shes not a NMSF.)</p>

<p>We would consider any size over about 3000 students. She has ruled out any school south of Dallas.</p>

<p>I already have Arkansas, Oklahoma State and OU on the list. Kansas has really become popular around here, but that price tag seems steep with high OOS tution and little merit aid.</p>

<p>Ideas of either schools with a COA under $35,000, or a higher COA and generous merit aid?</p>

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<p>Pitt’s COA for last year was around $33k.</p>

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<p>Do her PSAT scores qualify her for NMSF in your state?</p>

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<p><a href=“shes%20not%20a%20NMSF.”>quote</a>

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<p>Assume she’s not going to win anyone’s “big full tuition scholarhip” competition either.</p>

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<p>If her SAT is 1400+ Alabama has full tuition. SAT is 1440+ Auburn has full tuition, laptop and $4000 for study abroad after sophomore year.</p>

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<p>Although some of the schools may be technically north of Dallas (haven’t checked the map), she doesn’t want Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georga, South Carolina, New Mexico or Arizona.</p>

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<p>Missypie – Is your state part of any regional tuition exchange, like WUE for western states?</p>

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<p>Nope. Texas doesn’t seem to give anyone a tuition break, so no one gives us one. Arkansas gives in-state tuition to anyone with an ACT of 24 or over. That is why it’s on the list - we know we can afford to send her there, no matter what.</p>

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<p>From our search and the search of friends.
Seattle Pacific Univ- Christian but everyone we know who goes there is very happy. I would describe the kids from our area of Ca who go there as groovy christians not shirt and tie conservative. They give some nice merit awards.
Purdue- might be slightly higher
Washington State Univ
Univ of Denver used to be around that but I think their tuition has gone up but with merit aid it might be worth a look. edit- COA is 45000 but they have a number of merit awards that would put it down to 35,000 or less.</p>

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<p>Any NC schools (public)?</p>

<p>ECU, NC State, UNC CH, UNC Wilmington, UNC Charlotte, UNC Pembroke, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Asheville, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Fayetteville State…there are several more within the state system…their OOS COA is under $35K</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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<p>Binghamton University - one of the top SUNY schools. COA for OOS is still in the 20’s I believe (tuition plus room and board). Excellent reputation. Nice campus. They love out of state students.</p>

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<p>I have this strange prejudice against Purdue…maybe it’s because they’re the Boilermakers? I have a feeling of a campus full of unfriendly engineers.</p>

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<p>What do you think is the cream of that crop? I see NC State on the “ugliest campus” lists. I’d like her to apply to UNC Asheville, just because I love that area. I really don’t want her to go someplace that’s really difficult to get to from Dallas.</p>

<p>Also, she’s looking for more “urban” or “college town” than a school with lots of outdoor sports opportunities. She would love to be in Chicago or Boston…at least she thinks so.</p>

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<p>Would she consider Canadian schools? McGill, in Montreal (definitely urban!) fits the bill financially, but depends upon which major: [Cost</a> of Attendance](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/cost/]Cost”>Calculate your costs - McGill University)</p>

<p>Other Canadian schools are similarly priced, though each is different.</p>

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<p>(re: Purdue Boilermakers) Or really heavy drinkers!</p>

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<p>Heavily drinking engineers…the picture is not improving!</p>

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<p>LOL, I should SO send her to upstate NY…she wants snow and cold…there you go, sweetie!</p>

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<p>I don’t know what you will find in Boston for under 35,000.
Though my friend whose D goes to Seattle Pacific has a son who went to Gordon College outside of Boston. Another christian college but it looks like the tuition is in our price range.
I will see how Purdue is next week. Visiting with my D. I was born, raised and lived my entire life in Ca within 10 miles of the ocean. Have never been to the midwest.</p>

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<p>Truman State University, in Kirksville, MO (just south of the Iowa state line). It is often referred to a ‘public LAC’. Very undergraduate focused. Just under 6000 students.</p>

<p>[Campus</a> Facts](<a href=“http://www.truman.edu/pages/150.asp]Campus”>http://www.truman.edu/pages/150.asp)</p>

<p>Lots of merit aid, OOS as well as instate. I don’t know the exact numbers, but there are more OOS students than one would expect, especially from the Chicago area, since it is on the Amtrak line out of Chicago.</p>

<p>OOS tuition under 12K. Room and board varies, but it is not high. And lots of automatic merit scholarships. (There is a service requirement for many of the merit awards, about 4 hours a week. That is one reason there are lots of clubs, organizations and other campus activities.)</p>

<p>A lot of students who would otherwise attend Mizzou or other large pubic flagships choose Truman State because of its smaller size and closer contact with professors right from the start.</p>

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<p>I’m going to second the Pitt recommendation. Nice honors program, rolling admit, great aid program. I think geography would help you there. If she’s looking for urban instead of college town, Pitt fitts the bill there too.</p>