<p>There are many smaller schools with relatively high selectivity. However, small size can impose limitations on majors and courses offered, so his selection criteria would likely involve checking how the schools are with his possible majors (CS in particular is often limited at small schools that are not science or engineering oriented). Small schools with relatively high selectivity also won’t be safeties for anyone.</p>
<p>It is also not necessarily a given that he won’t be able to find his niche in a large school. The top 500 to 2,000 frosh students at a big school like Michigan may be as strong or stronger academically compared to the frosh students at a school whose total frosh class size is 500 to 2,000.</p>
<p>Of course, you and he need to have the cost discussion and check the proposed schools’ net price calculators before he makes his final application list (probably late junior year, summer, or early senior year at the latest).</p>