Daughter is a HS Junior looking to start her college search and be prepared for applications next summer. She is a solid academic performer with stellar EC’s in my opinion. I think “Nerdlete” might be the best way to describe her. GPA UW 3.8 with some AP, multiple Honors, and Mesa classes and some strong future AP and future degree specific classes coming up the next 2 years including APChem and Anatomy. No test scores yet. She is thinking Physical Therapy for her future and would like to study Exercise Science/Kinesiology before going to PT school. Her EC’s include being a 2 sport Varsity Letterman, with multiple school/conference awards already, will be captain of 1the basketball team the next 2 years, VP of the photography club in 10th and will be president the next 2 years, Volunteers for a therapeutic riding program weekly and also will job shadow at a PT office specializing in sports injury rehabilitation. This is all in addition to year-around travel basketball that takes up a ton of time for both practice and travel. Our dilemma is that our local state school is not where she would like to go. Probably exposure to too much of a good thing on our part… season ticket holders, multiple generations of alumni, etc. A parent of her cousin’s best friend is even head of the department she’s interested in. However, she is adamant not to attend there, though will apply because she is guaranteed a small scholarship and will get in. I admire her desire to not do the “safe” thing. Her heart is set on Texas for some reason, so we are taking a Spring Break tour to Texas to hit all the majors (UT, TAMU, Baylor, TCU, SMU, maybe Tech). Where else should we look? We would love to stay West of the Mississippi, and Not in Washington/Oregon or probably CA/AZ, but are open to suggestions. Her wish list includes: medium/large size, rural/suburban college town feel, good weather, strong spirit/sports culture, many intramural activities and clubs, and good dorm life. Any good suggestions on colleges we should research? Realizing these are all OOS schools bonus points for any schools you think would give her merit aid/scholarships to get around to $30K it would cost to stay in-state. Thanks for your thoughts!
Good news is west of the Mississippi but not all the way to the coast is a good spot to find $30K and under. The Midwest is full of them. We looked in Iowa and surrounding states. For my DDs we found Midwest privates to land in mid $20s after auto merit and there are publics that have ways to earn in-state rates through stats.
Kansas State fits all of your buttons. My son’s roommate is a PhD in kinesiology now after getting his undergraduate there and loved the program! Oh and we are from Texas!
University of Tulsa. They have an Exercise and Sports Science major; and your daughter may qualify for the Presidential Scholarship, which would result in a full tuition waiver, or other scholarships as well.
What is your home state? Are you from a WUE/WICHE state?
University of New Mexico ticks all her boxes. UNM offers a degree in Exercise Science.
https://coehs.unm.edu/departments-programs/hess/index.html
UNM has a PT school. The medical campus is just across the street from the undergrad.
Plus she’d likely qualify for the Amigo scholarship
With the Amigo, tuition, fees, dorm and meals would come to just under $20K/year
The campus area is quite safe and Nob Hill is an excellent campus town. Plenty of sunshine, good weather and lots of outdoor activities. Nearby mountains and riparian open space. There’s downhill skiing within 20 minutes of campus. (My daughters used to knock off early in the afternoon during med school and go rock climbing/hiking/trail running/rafting/mountain biking/road biking.)
University of Colorado offers an undergrad Integrative Physiology degree. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to join the Health Professions Residential Academic Program.
RAP offers small classes–no more than 19 students per class.
Boulder is fun town adjacent to the mountains for skiing, mountainbiking, kayaking, etc.
The downside is the CU is stingy w/ aid to OOS students.
These are great! Thank you! UC Boulder is a contender. Plus side her best friend will probably go there. Downside the weather. She was hoping more sun than snow.
Yes, we are a WUE state. Unfortunately UC Boulder does not participate.
Utah has many of the same outdoor opportunities as Boulder (but better skiing!) and a major in Health and Kinesiology (Kinesiology - Academic Advising Center - The University of Utah). It does offer WUE or the chance to get residency for instate tuition after the first year so would come in at $30K or less per year.
Oklahoma for sure. Smaller than A&M but in college town near OKC. Good academic rep with Texans and generous scholarships.
If interested in TX, check out Trinity University for sure. Good merit, solid academics, lots of club activities, in San Antonio I believe.
SLC/UU has the same cold weather issues as Boulder/CU.
ABQ has an average of 310 sunny days/year.
Most Colorado cities have 300 days of sunshine every year. Sometimes there is snow on the ground on those 50 degree sunshine days, but Boulder isn’t that snowy most of the time. You’ll find students wearing shorts every day of the school year (college kids don’t always dress appropriately)
But for an OOS student, it is unlikely UC is going to come in under $30k. CSU-Ft Collins, Wyoming, CU-Denver (and/or health sciences campus) are more likely to come in under that.
Texas OOS at UT is a reach for most due to them guaranteeing admission to top 6% of instate High School graduating students TAMU guarantees top 10%
Tech would be a safety
Privates getting down to 30K would require generous merit
Had some others already mentioned
Here are a few more under 30K depending on merit
IOWA STATE
https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/scholarships/freshman/ca
East of the Mississippi
FSU depending on SAT scores for an OOS waiver 20k range
https://admissions.fsu.edu/first-year/scholarships/
Mississippi State depending on test scores 20k range
https://www.admissions.msstate.edu/scholarships
In addition to what i’ve seen listed - Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, UAH (mid size), UTK, U of South Carolina. Check Western Carolina too although it will be more regional. For a private, you will likely get there with merit at U of Tampa.
Average Jan high: ABQ: 48.5, Boulder 46.8, SLC 37.8
Total sunny days: ABQ: 280, Boulder 245, SLC 222
Total rainy/snowy days: ABQ: 57, Boulder: 88, SLC: 91
Total snow: ABQ: 11in, Boulder: 71in, SLC: 54in
Pursuing training in physical therapy can involve 3-4 years after college to obtain a DPT. One way to shorten that process - and thereby save money for each year of graduate tuition eliminated - is to apply to a direct admit (bachelor’s + doctoral combined sequence) out of high school. Not only does this guarantee that all of the course work is aligned, eliminating the need to take prerequisites after college, but some of these programs are accelerated, saving 1-2 years of grad school and it’s accompanying cost. Check this link for direct admit PT programs:
This link lists DPT degrees, ranked by cost:
With a 29 or better on the ACT, your daughter will get $13K per year or more at OU. Before aid, it’s $41K per year for OOS students.
Great things to think about! Thank you!
I’ve just added OU to our list. It sounds alot like our local state school!