@twobugs Umass Amherst is S’s top choice. He would be thrilled if he can get in! The problem is CS is different - the exploratory program for CS (= undeclared for CS) is by invitation only, meaning he has to apply to CS, not undecided. So, the risk here is he might be put on the undeclared for CS, or rejected altogether.
Complete opposite side of the country, but S1 was admitted to Washington State into their EECS program with similar stats. We know a whole bunch of OOS kids there and they tend to love it, including D’s roommate from Maryland (and roommate’s boyfriend from Texas) and her good friend from Nevada.
@mamabear1234 No he hasn’t. He briefly looked at the ACT question styles and format and he prefers SAT.
Check out Case Western. My S’s stats were a bit higher but in that general area. Case was very encouraging, they even gave him a sizable (merit) scholarship. S was impressed by the high level of students there. They don’t admit to a specific major so it’s a bit easier for the CS applicants.
@koshkas Case Western? We never considered it because it is so highly ranked and selective, that it seems like a total far reach and way out of his league. I will check it out and see where S falls on the chart.
My understanding was that Case is just a bit below UMass and about on-par with BU (by stats on our school’s Naviance), so not so unreachable. They also have non-binding EA which is very helpful and if you somehow contact them beforehand, they may even wave your application fee.
If he is taking the SAT again make sure he is preparing for it so that he improves his score. (classes, self study, tutoring) A higher SAT score will help him if applying to STEM programs. Some schools may require subject tests too.
Interesting. When I looked at Naviance S is way below average on the scattergram. Case’s total admission rate though is not as low as I thought (38%). Its common data set makes it seem a bit more reachable than Naviance. So confusing. May I ask what major your child get admitted for?
Case doesn’t admit to any specific major - they sort of grant it in the end based on what classes the kid takes. My S was aiming for CS and physics. He chose to go elsewhere in the end but Case was a definite runner-up for him and all his freshman year he was torn if he made the right decision in not going to Case - he liked it there so much.
@MomtoAndrew2018 Check out University of Denver. It’s a rising private school in Denver, just a few miles south of downtown. They like regional diversity, offer a CS major, have extensive contacts within the business community where your son could intern, and with his grades he could likely get enough FA to be within your budget.
@katliamom Thank you! Checking it out now! 
He may well get into the honors program at UMass. Don’t discount the ACT, its a different test but he could score a tier higher than the 1300 SAT, you never know. Do the other state schools have good CS programs? Could he start at one for two years and transfer in to UMA?
Here’s another vote to try the ACT. My son has very similar stats as yours, hated the ACT but on his first attempt got a 30 which is equivalent to a 1380. Although he preferred the SAT test he never could hit a 1380. I wish I could think of an explanation why he did better on a test he absolutely hated. Good luck!
@luloobee Thanks! I am going to have S try a practice ACT test to see how he does.
Try University of Maine, Orono Campus. As a Mass. resident he pays Maine in-state tuition. I believe the profile fits. Beautiful campus!
@retiredfarmer No, a MA resident would pay the regional tuition rate which is higher than instate but lower than out of state
http://www.maine.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-rates/
@retiredfarmer and @TomsRiverMom
Thanks so much! I had NO idea UMaine has a discount for MA students. Too bad S is adamant about not going to U Maine. The reason? He said a number of well-known ‘bad’ (troubled, smoked pot, etc.) students with poor grades from his school got admitted there and that left a bad taste for him about the school. I guess he just really does not like those kids.
What exactly does your son want? He has put some pretty significant restrictions on schools suggested.
As you already know…he needs a higher SAT score or an ACT 32 or above to be considered for significant merit aid.
His GPA is fine.
Some of the schools on this list are reaches with that 1300 SAT score for admissions…never mind merit aid.
Some like Northeastern no longer give much merit aid.
You have a lot of OOS public universities on your list where you will likely be full pay if he gets accepted. Are you OK with that?
@twoinanddone do you have some lower cost suggestions?
The OP also look at University of New Mexico. I think he would,qualify for the Amigo award…which reduces to instate costs which are about $17,000 total for the year.
“We live in MA.”
“Is UMass Lowell on the list?”
When I read “we live in MA”, UMass Lowell is the first thing that I thought of also. It is certainly worth applying to UMass Amherst, but Lowell seems like a safer choice so applying to both make sense.