<p>^^^You are right, for engineering Truman State is not the place. </p>
<p>Computer science is often not ABET accredited. MIT computer science, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science, the last I checked, are not ABET accredited. Computer engineering is another story.</p>
<p>In my mind, the bigger problem with CS at a place like Truman State would be the relative lack of research experience. My son, by the way, was a CS and math major, and he preferred to go to a CS program that resided within an engineering school, because that is where the research money and, hence, research experience, was to be found. Like your son, he was looking for big merit money. In his case, he found it at Vanderbilt (full tuition plus NMF stipend). I haven’t mentioned it in this thread because you specified midwest. Vanderbilt overall is about 12K students, I think, but about 6500 undergrads. The engineering school (VUSE) is about 1500 and has a smaller feel. He did very well (grad. 2011), had a very high paying job offer before his senior year began, and is working in San Francisco as a software engineer. The CS program is not ABET, as far as I know–it was not a consideration for CS. The merit awards are very competitive, but your son’s record puts him in the pool. While need-based aid at Vanderbilt is good, and it is a no-loan program, it still may not cover what you need. Take a look at the Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship, as well as the other two full tuition awards, if you are interested in a school that is a bit farther than 7 hours. (I think I made it from Nashville to Chicago in about 8 hours, so it isn’t <em>too</em> much over your limit.)</p>
<p>Good luck. FWIW, in my opinion, very top students can make a lot of different kinds of programs work well for them, as long as they are focused, take advantage of all opportunities, get to know faculty who have connections, make a point of networking and seek out research and internship opportunities. That is not to say that every single college will work, but that there are a lot of potential good fits.</p>