<p>We're (OK I'm) just starting the college search process - my dd is a sophomore in HS. We're looking probably for an LAC or small university in an urban or suburban setting. We may not get financial aid, so I'm trying to figure out if there are any good schools that cost less than $25,000 for out of staters. (Unfortunately, we're in MA, so our state schools leave a lot to be desired - UMass has been renamed "UParty". Those of you in states with good systems, count your blessings!)</p>
<p>DD wants to study psychology, history, sociology, etc. And she wants a place that at least offers dance classes (jazz, ballet and tap) to non-dance majors.</p>
<p>not sure about the dance, but there is a new performing arts center;
not sure about range which scores and grades put your D; but look at Christopher Newport, part of Virginia's state system</p>
<p>I would suggest that you start looking into schools that are maybe a notch below your daughter academically (not knowing where she is academically make it impossible for me to give any specific recommendations). Many schools offer huge scholarships (up to full tuition, room and board, and sometimes stipends too) to students who are at the top of their student body. Also, check out fastweb.com and inquire in your guidance or career office about scholarships she can apply for.</p>
<p>Trinity University in Texas, Southwestern all around 30,000 with good merit awards, If you are in top 25% for school you have a good shot at merit.</p>
<p>New Zealand and Australian schools offer good value for the money, particularily Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canterbury, and Otago. Bachelor's degree in three years.</p>
<p>chedva, what kind of stats? Remember there are some schools with automatic merit aid at certain stat levels, DePauw and Southwestern are just two of them. Sticker prices don't always tell the whole story D's safety and one of her favorites is Hanover College. The whole bill is $28,500 but at decent stats, it's under $25 in a hurry.York College in Pennsylvania is just well priced to begin with as is Westminster in Missouri and Albertson in Idaho. Give us a little more and we'll try to center in.</p>
<p>I don't have a lot of info about her stats yet, since she's taken neither the PSATs or the SATs. Her GPA is about 5.3 out of 6 (weighted), 3.6 out of 4 (unweighted) in a pretty good public high school. She's taken all honors in 10th except math, but she's got an A+ in it. She took Bio in 9, Chem in 10, Physics in 11 (which is not the normal sequence in her school; usually Bio's not until 10). </p>
<p>I guess my question was a little more generic, but I'll take whatever info you've got! Thanks.</p>
<p>Chedva: so far your D's stats indicate a possibility of merit aid at some schools, which could bring the cost down to the figure you gave. There's a current thread on that topic right here.</p>
<p>University of Arizona is neither a lac nor small, but it does give out merit $ to OOS kids (to offset OOS tuition), so it could fit your budget. But, it's first come-first served for the merit cash, so apply early in the fall under their rolling admission policy. </p>
<p>A good friend's D was into Dance and really like their program.</p>
<p>Goucher college in Maryland has a strong dance program and good psychology department. They are a little on the pricey side compared to some of the schools I'm going to list below, but can be VERY generous with merit money for top students.</p>
<p>If your daughter's test scores match up with her grades, I think Smith would also be worth a look. Again, pricey (and maybe too close to home) but they offer some good merit scholarships. Wheaton College in Mass. would be another one with dance, good psychology and merit money at times. </p>
<p>If you're not absolutely committed to staying in the northeast, I'd suggest you concentrate on looking at schools in the midwest and south. They are truly some stellar schools that are low cost to begin with (compared to the northeast schools) and which can be generous with merit money to boot.</p>
<p>Some ones I particularly like:
Hendrix College
Trinity University
Southwestern University
Knox College
Beloit College
DePauw U
College of Wooster
Denison
University of South Dakota (very inexpensive, liberal arts focus, smaller than other state schools, many merit scholarships for out of state students)</p>
<p>In addition to these schools, I'd also recommend you look at: Mary Washington College (Virginia), St. Mary's College of Maryland (Maryland's public liberal arts school), Juniata (PA), Southern Methodist, Susquehanna, Furman (SC), Muhlenberg, McDaniel, SUNY Purchase, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Binghamton - All are either reasonably priced or offer decent merit money. Several of the above have dance programs</p>
<p>I'm going to bump this up again, given the discussions on the merit aid thread. The thrust of this thread is to assume that my dd doesn't get any aid, either need or merit based. What are some good colleges that start out affordable (as defined above), so she'll have somewhere to go just in case she doesn't get aid? And not focusing on her stats (make the assumption that she can get in). If the list has been exhausted here, so be it. Just wanted to get the full range of options. Thanks again, everyone!</p>
<p>Was going to put Denison on there - but Carolyn beat me to it. :)</p>
<p>My usual suggestion: look at rural schools. The tuition tends to be a little lower, and housing is a lot lower, than at city schools. Any spending money will also go a lot further (you know, $5 for a sandwich and not the $10 you would have to pay in midtown Manhatten).</p>
<p>McGill, the most well known, and other Canadian U's are very reasonable, I believe. I just checked their website which requires much searching to put together the comprehensive cost, but it looks to me like 2004-05 was just under $12K for tuition, around $10K for housing and a few other misc. fees in the $1-2K total range.</p>
<p>These are the prices for internationals and are, I assume, in Canandian dollars.</p>
<p>According to PR Best Bargains, Private (based on gpa and academic rating)</p>
<p>William Jewell College
Wabash Coll
Millsaps Coll
Centre Coll
Ripon Coll
The College of Wooster
Austin Coll
Hiram Coll
Sweet Briar Coll
Coll of the Atlantic</p>
<p>It’s not exactly urban or suburban, but check out Geneseo, which is part of the SUNY system (still a great bargain for OOS) but has been transformed into a public LAC:
[SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu/]SUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu/)
It’s about 30 minutes from Rochester, NY.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be to quick to poo poo MA state schools. Umass-Amherst’s psych program is strong and the Honor College is solid (and they are opening up another honors dorm). I suggest you look closely at (at least) one in-state school.</p>