Public schools offering good financial aid?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Financial aid is crucial for me and my family. My mom and I are <$20,000, so I'm looking to get a full or nearly-full ride. I feel my only affordable options are in-state or a private university, but I want to look into less selective, out-of-state options. Anyone know of a public school with a record of granting amazing need-based scholarships? (Preferably in a liberal state.) Or failing that, private schools that would do the same but are less selective?
For reference my forecasted numbers are 2000-2200 SAT, 31-33 ACT, 3.75 uw gpa</p>

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<p>Public/private is not the distinction you need to make. You have two possibilities for enough money: schools that meet promise to meet 100% of need </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/09/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need-2014”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/09/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need-2014&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>and those that will offer you full tuition/ride for your stats</p>

<p><a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;

<p><a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;

<p>Some schools have promised to meet the needs of any family whose income is less than X. You need to learn about these because financially you’ll qualify for them; whether you qualify academically is known only to those schools.</p>

<p>There are also organizations that help to get kids from low income families into college. One of them is Questbridge:</p>

<p><a href=“Presentation of Questbridge Programs - Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums”>Presentation of Questbridge Programs - Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums;

<p>You can go to college. It might not be your preferred route, but you can go to a 4yr college. Do the research and come back to us when you have questions.</p>

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<p>Jkeil911; BINGO!!!</p>

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<p>University of Alabama will give you full tuition if you get a 32 on the ACT. What is your intended major? Engineering college will give you some additional benefits too, if that is something you are considering.</p>

<p>You won’t find need-based aid at OOS publics.
Look at the list that jkeil posted. Lots of merit-based scholarships. Try to get a 32 on the ACT. It’s a cut-off for a lot of merit-based awards at many schools.</p>

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<p>Full-tuition would not be enough for someone with a family-income of under 20K (well, I suppose the OP could take out loans). However, if the OP can get in to one of the meet-full-need schools, that’s probably their best bet.</p>

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<p>

Unlike virtually all other public universities, UNC meets the full demonstrated need of all domestic admits. If the OP is admitted at UNC Chapel Hill, the Carolina Covenant program would allow him/her to graduate debt-free and would cover virtually all of his/her costs except a work commitment. It certainly has the liberal atmosphere @shintani is looking for. </p>

<p>It’s very difficult difficult to get into UNC as a freshman OOS applicant (much easier as a transfer), but a 3.75 GPA and 2200 SAT would provide a fighting chance. </p>

<p>However…</p>

<p>@shintani, you mentioned that it’s just you and your mother. If your parents are divorced, be aware that your father could still be expected to pay as the noncustodial parent. If that’s the case and he is unable/unwilling to pay, you should primarily look at schools where your stats would place you well into the top 25% of the admit pool for a good shot at large merit scholarships. </p>

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<p>University of Virginia also claims to meet OOS need.</p>

<p>According to <a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/AboutUMFinancialAid/SampleAidPackages.aspx”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/AboutUMFinancialAid/SampleAidPackages.aspx&lt;/a&gt; , lower income OOS students at Michigan may get affordable net prices on need-based financial aid (but middle income OOS students will probably get unaffordable net prices). But you should run the net price calculator yourself: <a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/Resources/NetPrice.aspx”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/Resources/NetPrice.aspx&lt;/a&gt; . Note that Michigan does use CSS Profile, so non-custodial parent will be considered (i.e. if has significant income/wealth but won’t pay, or is unwilling to do financial aid forms, you are out of luck).</p>