USD Is there a potential for Significant Merit Rewards?

I have posted a similar question relative to a few different schools.

I would like some opinions on my son’s situation. My son is a current HS Junior. 36 comp ACT, 1530 SAT (I have mis typed that as 1540 in other threads here on CC), No subject tests yet, 3.9 UW GPA, 4.25 W GPA. High scores, but relatively average ECs and grades. Too early for NMSF, but he is likely to be a SF, possible F based on estimated PSAT SI.

I am trying to determine if USD or similar smaller private California (Santa Clara, Chapman by example) schools might be a good match, with the understanding that to make this work, significant merit awards would be needed. In other words: our EFC is much higher than we can practically afford, so we are looking for desirable match schools that have a history of very very generous merit awards.

Although bright, my son is open to all sorts of subjects to study … doesn’t haver a strong path … so using multiple methods (campus, weather, location, etc) to narrow choices is becoming a requirement. (example, maybe business, maybe pre Law, maybe certain STEM fields, even maybe film studies are in his future!)

I understand nothing can be predicted perfectly, but would be interested in thoughts. Thanks.

(Edit, I have previously visited the campus, and a Catholic University is not an issue - he has attended parochial school.)

His stats sound similar to what mine were- 34 ACT 4.6 GPA- and I was given $25k :slight_smile: Now I go here and love every second of it! He should absolutely be a strong contender for quite a bit of money (although 25k is the very most they give for merit)

The Net Price Calculator on the USD Web Site provides a very accurate (at least from our experience this year) estimate of the Merit dollars that a student will receive based on GPA and ACT/SAT scores.