None of my children attended any of the colleges I listed above.
However, f you want to know if the COA at those schools would be <= $25K after subtracting the average merit grant from the sticker price, the answer is no. The OP would need above average merit aid to hit the $25K target (assuming no other aid). At Hendrix for example, the net (based on the Kiplinger numbers) would be $51K (sticker) - $23,658 (average merit) = $27,342 (net COA). At Centre, the net would be $47,940 - $17742 = $30,198. Those net amounts might be close enough to meet the OP’s budget after also deducting “self help” aid (student loans + employment). However, the in-state sticker price at St. Mary’s College of MD is less than $27K (according to Kiplinger).
According to the Goucher College 2014-15 Common Data Set, section H, its average merit aid award was $16,099. 106 of 403 first-time full time freshman received merit awards. Its 2014-15 sticker price is about $52K (according to US News).
Even as tuition costs rise within an increasingly competitive landscape, Denison remains committed to enrolling an increasingly diverse and talented student body. Therefore, a full 95% of current first-year students receive need-based financial aid or merit-based scholarships. On average, Denison invests $23,165 per student, per year. Last year, Denison provided a total of $48.5 million in grants and scholarships. Another $2.1 million of institutional funds are dedicated to providing self-help employment opportunities above and beyond standard college work-study funds. As a result, Denison consistently ranks among the top institutions nationally, and best in Ohio, for the lowest average student debt following graduation.
OP, to give you some reference on merit aid at LACs, I want to share the merit awards my D has received so far. My D’s stats are 3.5 UW/4.0W and 30 ACT. She has only applied to LACs in the south. So far these are her per year merit aid awards (in order of lowest to highest overall cost of attendance).
My DD has slightly lower GPA and slightly higher SAT’s. She applied to Washington College and has been offered about $18K in scholarships (and an opportunity to apply for a few more) which brings tuition down to $25K. Perhaps that would be doable for your DD with a few other scholarships, loans, work study she could make up the difference for room & board? It seems to fit your general criteria otherwise.
Ursinus and Muhlenberg are probably both worth looking at. Both offer a liberal arts education in a small school setting. Neither has a large Greek presence on campus. Aid is good at both schools. Both schools have a fairly accepting group of students who encourage classmates to take some chances and see what might catch their interests. New Presidents at both schools will bear some watching but definitely worth a trip to check out each school. Best of luck to you!
Washington&Jefferson has a lot of “easy”-ish merit and Greek life.
What about Moravian? UScranton? Lycoming?
I like Muhlenberg much better but it’s another choice.
Your D has time to bring her SAT score up and if she is able to do so she will increase her chances at higher merit $$. It is just a fact that extra points add up to extra dollars. An investment in some test prep might pay off. She could study over the summer and take it in the fall. Alternatively, she could try the ACT and see if it suits her better.
In addition to the schools mentioned here, take a look at Drew in New Jersey and, if she is open to women’s colleges, Cedar Crest and Bryn Mawr.
St. Mary’s and UMBC might be the most affordable options and they are very good schools.
@mdmom01 My oldest daughter attends Lebanon Valley College in Annville PA and we live in Maryland. She is in her junior year and just loves it there. They do give merit aid. Good luck!
I N’th St Mary’s college of Maryland. That was an early favorite of D15. Sadly she decided to go out of state and did not submit an application. I second UMBC as a very good, in state, inexpensive option. I’ve also heard goods things about Lebanon Valley from a parent whose daughter goes and she gets quite a bit of merit aid.
We’re finding for D15, these small colleges offer merit aid, enough to bring the COA of direct costs to around $27,000 - $32,000. She applied only to schools more than two hours outside Maryland, namely in the south and PNW with one in the Midwest, so no use listing them. She did get into Hendrix and received $20,000 in merit aid (3.1uwGPA, 3.7wGPA, 31 ACT).
You might want to check out La Salle and St. Joesph’s in Philly; Arcadia, Muhlenburg, Elizabethtown, Shippensburg, Messiah(very Christian). We know Maryland students that have gone to all of these and have had a good experience.