Suggestions for good engineering schools with generous financial aid?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I know it's a little too late to be looking for schools, but I'm just trying to add one more safety to my list. Most of my list consists of reaches like Harvard and MIT, which are obviously extremely selective, but all of those 100% need-covering schools will be almost free due to my family income. However, I have to account for the possibility that I don't get into any of those, so I'm looking for a safety school which has a good engineering program but will still provide good financial aid (I'm hoping for less than <10,000 a year). Here are my quick stats:
SAT: 2370
SAT II: 800 Math2, 800 Physics
ACT: 34
A bunch of AP classes, took 8 AP tests with 5's on each
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.25 W
My school is really competitive, and it's among the top 3 feeders for University of Michigan.
ECs: Great (in my opinion), although nothing outstanding except a project I did over the summer.
Awards: NHS, National Merit, National AP Scholar... all the typical ones. I also have awards for the National French contest and for a statewide math competition.
Essays: Should be great, still working on them</p>

<p>So, as you can see, I'm looking at some of the most competitive schools. I realize that a safety can't be that selective, but I'd still like a respected school with a strong engineering program. But at the same time, good financial aid is a must-have. So, does anyone have any suggestions?</p>

2

<p>Case Western</p>

3

<p>Thanks, I’ll consider into that. Their NPC results look pretty good, so I’ll look into the scholarships and grants that they offer. Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>Did you look at the automatic big merit list thread that is sticky at the top of the financial aid and scholarships forum section?</p>

<p>Another option is South Dakota Mines, which has a low list price.</p>

5

<p>Yes, I did look at some of those, but the problem is - those schools aren’t exactly the strongest when it comes to engineering and academics in general… I’m looking for good schools that would be low match/safety for me, but can still offer enough financial aid. Or am I asking for too much?</p>

6

<p>If you are a National Merit Finalist, Texas A&M has a good scholarship for you, including waiver of non-resident additional tuition.</p>

<p><a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/national_scholars/national_merit.aspx[/url]”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/national_scholars/national_merit.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Texas A&M’s cost of attendance is shown here:</p>

<p><a href=“https://financialaid.tamu.edu/Cost/COA_Undergrad.aspx[/url]”>https://financialaid.tamu.edu/Cost/COA_Undergrad.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>With the waiver of non-resident additional tuition and $10,000 per year scholarship, the net price will be about $12,000 per year.</p>

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<p>Also, have you checked the net price calculators and merit scholarships at your in-state Michigan public universities?</p>

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<p>Okay, thanks. I’ll look into that. Meanwhile, does anyone have any other suggestions?
And yes, I’ve checked out many in-state schools. I’m hoping to get into U of M Ann Arbor, which would be perfect for me - it’s obviously great at engineering and won’t be very expensive, according to their NPC. The decision comes out in 2-3 weeks, and I’m getting a little nervous, which is why I’m looking for backups in case I don’t get in. I think I’m being a little irrational though, because everyone I’ve asked told me that I have a solid shot there - but you never know with schools like U of M.</p>

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<p>U Rochester is a 100% need meeting school (as per CSS). Your stats are also likely to garner you some merit aid there.</p>

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<p>How good is it when it comes to engineering?</p>

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<p>No real clue, but it was the largest segment of their freshmen class last year, so I suspect it’s well respected - like most places, probably moreso in some fields/specialties than others. Contact their department and ask what recent grads have done.</p>

<p>Usually large state schools are the powerhouses for engineering. (MIT is too, of course, Harvard? Not around here.) Have you looked into any of those? Some offer decent merit aid, but you may be too late to apply this year.</p>

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<p>University of Maryland has an excellent engineering program. With your stats you I would guess that you would have been eligible for a full ride - COA. However, I think the deadline to apply for that scholarship was Nov. 1st. That being said, you might be eligible for other scholarships there, depending on when the deadlines are/were.</p>

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<p>I know Rose Hulman is an excellent engineering school, and I’m almost sure you can win the scholarship there.</p>

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<p>Keep in mind most engineering schools or those that offer engineering programs are usually “high quality”, so long they are accredited by ABET. Usually there is not much disparity in the “quality” of these programs, but then again some schools do NOT have good programs.</p>

15

<p>A few good engineering schools that I have heard give good aid to great students are Northeastern, CMU (mentioned), and Pitt.</p>

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<p>Here are more schools with scholarships for National Merit:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-56.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-56.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It is rather late to be looking for safeties, because you may have already missed some deadlines for applications and scholarships. The safeties should have been the first schools to put on your application list.</p>

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<p>Okay, thanks everyone for the suggestions. I found some very good options among the schools you listed. I realize that it’s too late, but I’m just getting slightly worried about my chances for Umich, which was my original low match - level school. I think what I’ll do is compile a list of possible safeties which aren’t past the deadline yet, finish all their supplements, but only send in the application and scores if I get rejected from U of M. And then I’ll just hope to get accepted to one of those 100 need-covering schools - that would be just ideal.</p>

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<p>However, don’t wait to send in a safety application if the safety’s deadline for application and scholarships is before Michigan gives the decision.</p>

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<p>The michigan decision should arrive within two weeks, and I don’t think there are any colleges with deadlines between now and then.</p>

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<p>The University of Tulsa has a competitive full ride for NMFs. I’m not sure if the application is still open (google it), but it could serve as a decent match, and you’re certainly a good candidate for the scholarship. Classes tend small, and the school has recently invested a decent amount of money into its engineering offerings. Be warned that it has a completely different vibe than any of the schools on your list.</p>