@kenbitrio What major?
OP – I see the problem.
The NEC is about the weakest D1 womens hoops conference. RPI ranges from 274-328, out of 349 total programs. And there’s not very many schools in the lowest tier of D1 womens hoops that are all that appealing in terms of fancy academic prestige. Patriot, as you note, is probably the lowest scholarship conference that has some academic shine.
If you need to get the net COA all the way down to $0.00, then your kid would need to get a full hoops ride and would have to pick from whichever schools would provide such. Even if the school is not so dreamy. Good thing is that most kids will bloom regardless of where they are planted.
If you can afford the EFC, then a fancy D3 LAC is likely your next best deal. Like a NESCAC type school as you note. But check all those NPC’s. There could be more money available at Willaims or Amherst vs. Mbury for example.
Or target some schools where your kid would be competitive for non-athletic merit aid. Then your kid can just be a walk on. But the most frequent merit is 25-50% tuition. Maybe full tuition in rare cases. Full ride merit is even more rare.
Good luck.
She’s only a sophomore. Not all schools recruit extra early especially a sport like basketball where they’d love a girl to grow 3-4" in high school. Not many D3 schools recruit much before junior year. They don’t have big recruiting budgets.
But if the money doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Believe those NPCs.
Any chance of your D landing NMF?