<p>If B student is willing to stay in NE, I'd also take a look at Merrimack College in No Andover, MA. Merrimack has approx 1900 FT students and is located about half an hour north of Boston. It is a Catholic college run by the Augustinian Order (sister school to Villanova); but there are a substantial number of non-Catholic students. Merrimack is set up like a small university with some surprising features, including a well-respected business school and a 4-year engineering program. Also it has just completed a transition to a 4x4 curriculum with a normal load being four 4-credit courses per semester like most top LACs. And the campus is lovely!</p>
<p>what about rider in nj?</p>
<p>Nightingale, since you are from MA, have you considered any of the smaller UMass campuses (U Mass Dartmouth, for example). We know students at these schools and they are very happy there. The price would be very modest for you as an instate resident.</p>
<p>morrismom- I think you may be talking about Amherst College. They recently stopped construction on a major building project. Hard to fathom Amherst not being able to afford more construction, given their endowement. As far as the four year graduation rate; if classes are cut and a senior needs that class to graduate in the spring, it could be a problem.</p>
<p>As far as our "in state schools"... UMASS is too big and many smaller state schools may be "suitcase colleges" as mentioned in this thread. I'm going to look into that now.</p>
<p>university of hartford, which also gives great merit aid</p>
<p>Rider and U. Hartford have been added to our list. Checking out merit at Merrimack.</p>
<p>Check out Harwick. I haven't looked up stats or merit recently, but I think it could be a contender.</p>
<p>Hofstra is under $40K without merit money. Post and Adelphi may be as well. These are LI schools.</p>
<p>Oneonta is a very popular destination for my LI community college students. I know they're not coming home weekends.</p>
<p>I've been working at a SUNY for 19 years. I have never known of a class being cut that prevents a senior from graduating. The first classes to be cut would be electives NOT needed to graduate.</p>
<p>Buffalo attracts the vast majority of their students from upstate. Many kids live within an hour of home. Less than 40% live in university housing. You are right, however, that many kids live off campus rather than commute as one can find cheap student housing out there. I don't really consider it a commuter campus but it does not have as strong of a community as many state u's of its size. </p>
<p>A lot of the smaller public unis do have the "suitcase" college syndrome, and that is something that kids should check especially if they are coming from a several hours distance. It's no big deal if you know the school, know a lot of the kids going to the school and it's in your neck of the woods, but it can be an issue if you are one of the few kids who are revolving their lives around the campus.</p>
<p>Okay morrismm, that is good to know about SUNY. SUNY 4 year grad rates are higher than most publics.</p>
<p>How about Maine's state university system. I hear they are looking for OOS students to fill the seats. Anyone have an S or D in that system?</p>
<p>If you look at Maine, why not look at the midwest? For example, you can go to a private school like Marietta (I am not selling this school, it is just an example) in OH. Sticker price is 34,104. </p>
<p>Marietta</a> College: Loans</p>
<p>Otterbein is 33,780 (sticker price) (Otterbein</a> College Financial Aid - Costs and Payment</p>
<p>This is another school in OH.</p>
<p>I did exluded indirect costs in those examples (ie: transportation, books).</p>
<p>I guess that is my thinking, but I do realize that you are in NE, so Maine is closer to you than to me.</p>
<p>I know you say you don't qualify for need based FA and I don't know your situation. I recall you have a D who is currently in college. Your FA profile will look more "needy" with two in college and so don't overlook the FA application process. Otherwise, you will have to seek schools that give merit aid and where your son will be on the higher end of the applicant pool to be a contender for the merit aid. You do not have to necessarily overlook schools costing more than 40K because it could cost less if the merit scholarship is good and so you have to look at the total picture, not just the price tag. </p>
<p>Have you considered: Ithaca, Wagner, Drew, Quinnipiac, Fairfield, St Lawrence, Seton Hall, Elmira, Elizabethtown, Endicott, Merrimack, Roger Williams, Paul Smith's, Champlain College,Univ. of Maine-Farmington, Colby-Sawyer College, Alfred University, Providence College, Bentley, Manhattanville, Salve Regina, Rider, Springfield College, Niagara University, Monmouth University, Western New England College, Suffolk, Nazareth College, University of Southern Maine, Fairleigh Dickinson, Springfield College, Utica College, Hofstra, University of Rochester. </p>
<p>These schools are not THAT far away but not in the states you specified:
Denison, St. Josephs, York College of PA, DeSales, Susquehanna, University of Scranton, West Chester University of PA, Towson, Ursinus, Allegheny College, Villanova, Wilkes University, Philadelphia University, Drexel, Point Park, College of Wooster, University of Dayton, Ohio Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Meant to say that I "excluded"</p>
<p>How about Drew University in Madison, NJ? They desperately need men & try to tantalize them with merit aid. While it isn't under 40K, with good stats & being male,that may be a real hook. They are having an Open House on Saturday November 22nd, which I am trying to persuade D#3 to attend. </p>
<p>From what I have read they really need students, their yields in the last couple years have been about 17% and 11%. </p>
<p>We are in New England too & when you say "New Jersey" my son & daughter look at me like I am talking about going to school in Iraq or Afshanistan or something. Yet they have never even been to New Jersey. Geographical prejudice I suppose. I would really like both of them to look at Drew, my daughter is a senior & my son is a junior. </p>
<p>D#1 graduated from UCONN & D#3 is a senior at St. Lawrence University.</p>
<p>I know families with kids at UMaine Orono and URI. Both have had positive experiences. The one at URI has really taken off. She was a B student with SAT scores that were about your son's range and is now a top student on the premed trail. I just talked to the mom who has been very happy with that match.</p>
<p>Orono is a real trek. It's as close to western Massachusetts as York.</p>
<p>Post #34 has several schools mentioned that are under consideration. Namely; Drew, Champlain, Umaine Farmington. A couple were too close to home for my S, those were WNEC, Springfield College. Others semm way too pricey unless I'm underestimating my S as a gender hook or something. His academic record is good but not great. SAT 1210 Math/Verbal, a couple of AP as well as honors courses. My coworkers who have mutiple kids in school tell me to expect nothing from the Feds based on our income alone. When i last spoke with the Fed my income would need to drop 35K for aid... but S will be second one in school.. but still...</p>
<p>SLUMOM: Drew is a really nice campus, in a really upscale suburban village...only 40 minutes by direct train into NYC....your kids response, though, made me laugh......</p>