Where can I go for lowest cost/most merit aid that's a big school with decent engineering

Paying for College
1

Hi - I’m looking to apply to a big school (with a FBS football program) that has an engineering program on the better side, prefer to get a BSE, not a BA. Any advice as to where to apply to get the most merit aid would be great. My family income is over $220k so won’t get much/any need based aid. My stats are below:

White male.
GPA: 3.98U/5.17W
Class rank: school doesn’t rank but in top 2%, class of 397
ACT: 31 Composite. Highest scores were 35S, 32M, 30E, 30R, 28E/W (over two test dates, both scores composite of 31)
AP Classes - all math and science available, all scores of 5.
Most honors courses available.
ECs: Real job as a healthcare coordinator for a skilled nursing company, 25 hrs week school and full time summers.
Math and science tutor for past 3 years
Varsity lacrosse goalie, played all 4 years also played on amateur team traveling east coast
Varsity ice hockey goalie, played all 4 years, top ice hockey school in pa, won states last year,
4th grade math classroom assistant, selected by teachers
Volunteer at county food bank

Awards: earned “Highest Honors” every year in HS for GPA in top 3% of HS. Recognized in school district as 1 of 3 students to earn all As in 3 years of middle school.

Went to high school in 8th grade for math and science honors courses.

Essays: better than average but not great. Genuine.

Thanks for any insight/advice!

2

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

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Seriously check the link that @nw2this posted. Many great options for you. Alabama schools are particularly well supported on this website.

4

The ACT score needs to be at least a 32 for full tuition at Bama, but UAH is full tuition for a 30. I think UKy’s is also lower, maybe a 30 or 31.

5

How about Ohio State? You should get some merit money there. What is a FBS football program?

6

@Mom2aphysicsgeek This student is an eng’g major. His ACT only needs to be a 30 to get free tuition at Bama.

he’d get 2/3 from the univ, PLUS he’d get 1/3 from the CoE…plus he’d get 2500 per year.

So, Alabama is likely the HIGHEST ranked school where he could get free tuition, plus more.

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The University of Alabama…but apply NOW…the deadline for this award is in Dec. The app takes like five minutes…quick…no essays, no LORs. send transcripts and scores.



UA Scholar
30-31 ACT (1330-1390 SAT)  3.5+ GPA
67% Tuition Engineering President’s Cabinet Scholarship
33% Tuition Supplement
plus
Engineering Leadership Scholarship     $2,500 per year
8

@mom2collegekids I thought I had heard that the COE was no longer offering the tuition supplement. Is that not the case, bc that is huge for a lot of students?? Thanks for correcting my info!

OP, I agree with mom2collegekids, look into UA. My ds is a sophomore there and absolutely loves it.

9

FBS = Football Bowl System (larger Division 1 schools).

OP, what is your home state?

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Hi all and thanks for the insight, much appreciated. Thanks Erin’s Dad, yes FBS is a basically a Division 1, big football program. I’ve been to many colleges for visits and a few college games and I want to have that (going to big games as part of my college experience) I did apply to Ohio State and based on your feedback I will apply to Bama today too. Thanks mom2collegekids for the deatils!

Please let me know if there are any other schools I should consider. Many thanks.

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Oh, and I’m in Pennsylvania to answer Erin’s Dad’s question.

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I take it we can all assume Penn State is already on your list as well?

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Although lowest cost/most merit does not really apply to PSU

14

U-MN has pretty low out of state tuition.

15

Entering Fall 2016 is the last year for that additional engineering scholarship for OOS students (for ACT 30 or 31). The current scholarships are in place.

UA has club hockey and other inter-mural sports too.

My DD is a sophomore eng student at UA and loves it there. We are thrilled with her academic scholarships (full tuition plus the $2500/year extra engineering scholarship). She already has an intern job lined up for next summer too.

Easy application to UA and the automatic scholarship awards - but the deadline is the deadline. Get it in!

What state are you in?

UA is gaining national alum too with so many students from OOS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrV8g7kxJps

UA has updated its Quick Facts http://viewbook.ua.edu/quick-facts/

16

This application year (for fall 2016 frosh) will be the last year of the top-up scholarship for engineering frosh with 30-31 ACT and 3.5 HS GPA.

http://eng.ua.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/

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@Mom2aphysicsgeek This app season is the last for that add’l award. Next year, the applicants won’t get it.

@16tobias You will get THREE awards from Alabama…and two will come in a separate envelope.

First you’ll get accepted. Then you’ll get the 2/3 tuition award. Then you’ll get the envelope for the other 2 awards…the 1/3 tuition and the 2500 per year award.

You’ll have Big Div 1 football, for sure!!!

There aren’t any higher ranked schools that will give you that much for an ACT 31.

When can you visit?

18

Is there a term for the opposite of “trolling?” A high stats applicant who wants engineering, large merit awards, and big-time football? Sounds like someone has a bit of a crush on a certain rather prolific poster…how long before the OP mentions an interest in med school? ;^)

19

^^^
don’t be silly.

However, if the OP has an interest in med school, we all can help with that.

<<<
Live in Pennsylvania and in a top 25 school district.
White male.
GPA: 3.98U/5.17W
Class rank: school doesn’t rank but in top 2%, class of 397
ACT: 31 Composite. Highest scores were 35S, 32M, 30E, 30R, 28E/W (over two test dates, both scores composite of 31)


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and an EE major.

20

Alabama may be an obvious safety choice for the OP’s criteria, but there are also reach/match choices that meet the OP’s criteria in http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/ , which lists schools that offer competitive full tuition to full ride merit scholarships (a full ride would be cheaper than the Alabama automatic one which is full tuition + $2,500).

OP should apply to Alabama as a safety, and then look to see if any in the competitive full tuition to full ride list are interesting enough to apply to.