D is not a stellar student so top end schools will be out of reach. We asked her to put a list of schools together and she has come up with the following list.
She has mentioned she wants something between 10,000 - 30,000 students (we visited UMD-CP recently and it was too large for her liking). Also not into the Greek life. We are in MD so still considering UMBC, Towson and Salisbury.
Pro/cons of each. Major is undecided.
Ohio University
UNC-Wilmington
Kansas State
University of Kansas
Rowan University
Western Michigan
Coastal Carolina
East Carolina
@“Erin’s Dad” We have saved enough through a 529 plan to pay for OOS schools. We have agreed to pay the average in-state tuition/room and board (MD-$23k) plus an additional $10k per year, total of $33k. Anything above that D will need to either get some merit aid or pay the difference either through working or loans.
I think most of the schools on her list come in close to that target, with the exception of Kansas. She claims there is merit aid to be had there.
A few months ago we were talking with a professor at at top-ranked national university in a great college town. They also taught at the University of Kansas and lived also in Lawrence, with their spouse, who was also a prof at the former school. We said something about the restaurants in town. They said that Lawrence actually had more restaurants, including many ethnic ones, and they thought the entire community was fantastic, with a developing tech sector. A few days later, I saw Lawrence on some list as the best college town (other college town was on the list as well). Of course, that’s subjective, and there are many, many lists. I’d think it must be pretty good though. You can’t beat the weather at those Carolina schools, and beaches are very nice too. Good luck!
I attended Ohio U for graduate study and also taught there for three years. I love this place. It has a bit of a reputation as a party school, but really, any large university will have a party scene. I taught English, and my students were ambitious and bright; they were in no way remedial, lazy, or under-achieving (there are exceptions, of course). I cannot say enough good things about Ohio U.
In terms of campus culture, it is my favorite place out of all the schools I have either attended or taught at. The campus is drop-dead gorgeous: hilly, tree-filled, with the Hocking River forming one of the campus boundaries. The buildings are all consistent–lots of red brick–and the campus definitely captures the idealized notion of a beautiful college campus. I am not gushing out of homerism. I went out to OH not knowing what to expect. Even now, I miss Athens dearly. The town is smallish (20,000-plus), but like the school itself, it’s not too big or too small. Court Street, which is filled with restaurants and bars, is the main strip, and it ends at the campus gate, through which is an open quad. Court Street is lively on weekends, but during the school week it’s also convenient. There used to be a shiny diner there, and I imagine it still is. Friends and I would eat there often.
Athens is in the foothills of Appalachia, so there are some beautiful surroundings, though economically the region is struggling (not Athens so much because of the university). If you need access to shopping malls or a sense of city, keep in mind that Athens is fairly isolated. The nearest big city is Columbus, about an hour or so away (not too far, though you’d have to be speeding to get there in an hour). Parkersburg, WV is 45 minutes away. When I lived in Athens during the early aughts, we’d go to Parkersburg because it had a Walmart and a few other big box stores. I’m pretty sure Athens has more of this now. On the way to Columbus there are sizable towns that offer these as well. Lancaster, for instance.
Hints on interest would help. Niece went to ECU s Greenville NC not wonderful town compared to others. Decent healthcare field programs. USC Wilmington-nice city and close to beach, good marine science. Coastal -close to beach, no real college town feel, good music theater programs. ECU and coastal do have decent size sports programs. I would have guessed that ECU is bigger than what you’re looking for
If you have any questions about Kansas State feel free to message me. My son is a Freshman there from OOS. There is good merit for lots of OOS students:
$48,000 renewable four-year scholarship. Awarded to out-of-state graduating seniors with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and 24 ACT (1160 SAT, taken March 2016 or after). Eligible students receive $12,000 per year. Renewable for up to 3 additional years with a 3.5 K-State GPA.
$32,000 renewable four-year scholarship. Awarded to out-of-state graduating seniors with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and an ACT of 21-23 (1060-1150 SAT, taken March 2016 or after). Eligible students receive $8,000 per year. Renewable for up to 3 additional years with a 3.5 GPA at K-State.
My so absolutely loves the campus. He has great interaction with his professors and feels they are friendlier and more interested in their students than anywhere else he visited. He loves the area and that larger cities aren’t that far away. He and his friends were skiing near Kansas City this past weekend. It is a great place for above average and average students. They really believe anyone can thrive if they put in the effort.
We live in NC. If you are looking for a college town East Carolina may be a good choice. Even the bank is purple and gold and the whole town goes to football games. UNCW is in Wilmington and not near downtown or beaches. It is not a college town and traffic is terrible until tourist season ends. UNCW has proven to be much more difficult to be accepted to this year. Many of my daughter’s classmates were deferred. UNCW does not have football and the beach weather will end mid October but they have a very good basketball team. For my daughter, not having a football team ruled out UNCW. Her friends attending UNCW tend to have family beach homes close by. ECU has many more OOS students.