Jump to content

Menu

Small colleges in warmer climates with good merit aid


Kassia
 Share

Recommended Posts

We live in OH and dd wants to attend college where it's not so cold.  She prefers a smaller college and would need generous merit aid to attend a private school.  Any recommendations?  I looked at the Down and Dirty List, but it seems some of that information is outdated.  For example, I found Furman on that list, which looked like a great match for her but then read here that their merit aid is not what it used to be.

 

ETA:  stats:  She took the SAT for the first time as a freshman and scored 1460.  SAT Spanish Subject Test - 800  She wants to increase her SAT score and is also hoping for National Merit.  4.0 GPA with 31 credits of DE and will be doing DE full time for junior/senior years.  She should have excellent letters of recommendation and good leadership on her activity resume.  I don't really know where that puts her competitively - will have to research and see how her future scores are.

 

 

I would love to keep the price to 20k max for tuition/room/board.  

 

Edited by Kassia
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What are her stats like?  Will she be completive for more selective schools or is she looking for a school in the Furman range?

If she is competitive then look at Davidson College.

 

Some that I can think of that aren't quite as selective:

 

Elon

Campbell

Wofford

Eckerd

Belmont University in Tennessee

Rhodes

Agnes Scott

Sewanee

 

I seem to have had a brain flop, let me come back and add after I've had coffee.

Edited by Attolia
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to collegedata.com, Furman still seems to offer merit -

 

PROFILE OF 2016-17 FINANCIAL AID

Freshmen

Financial Aid Applicants 529 (65.5%) of freshmen

Found to Have Financial Need 406 (80.4%) of applicants

Received Financial Aid 406 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need

Need Fully Met 143 (26.4%) of aid recipients

Average Percent of Need Met 81%

Average Award $40,141

Need-Based Gift

Received by 406 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $37,293

Need-Based Self-Help

Received by 288 (71.3%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,940

Merit-Based Gift

Received by 406 (100.0%) of aid recipients

Merit-Based Gift 305 (36.8%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $18,327

 

How low do you need your price to be? What stats?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We live in OH and dd wants to attend college where it's not so cold.  She prefers a smaller college and would need generous merit aid to attend a private school.  Any recommendations?  I looked at the Down and Dirty List, but it seems some of that information is outdated.  For example, I found Furman on that list, which looked like a great match for her but then read here that their merit aid is not what it used to be.

 

 

Furman doesn't have the need aid that it used to have.  They still offer merit aid but no full rides if you want a full ride.  DD was offered their top scholarship (offered to 8 students each year) and it was still $17,000/year for room/board/books/fees.

Edited by Attolia
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just how much merit does she need? Full tuition leaves anywhere from a 12-20K balance.  (For example, dd received full tuition from Fordham, but between room, board, books, and transportation, we estimated it would cost us $20,000/yr to cover the costs, whereas UKY's NMF scholarship covered all costs.)

 

Without stats, it is really hard to even make suggestions.  NM opens more doors.  If she is only a sophomore, scholarships might change a lot over the next 2 yrs.  Bama reduced theirs this yr.  So did UOK.  Temple reduced theirs 2 yrs ago. Etc.

 

FWIW, is your dd positive she wants a small school?  Has she visited?  My dd thought she wanted a small school until she did a couple of overnights.  She decided she found them claustrophobic and actually preferred large publics over small privates in the long run (and this was from a girl who had never stepped in a classroom before.)

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sewanee (University of the South) gives a lot of merit aid; we've known kids who've attended and LOVED it.  Passionate alumni network.

Oglethorpe University in Atlanta is a hidden gem.

Berry College in Rome, GA, about an hour north of Atlanta, gives tons of merit aid and consistently appears on the "prettiest college campuses" lists.

Queen's University in Charlotte gives massive amounts of automatic merit aid (run their NPC), and we've known people who go there who love it.  Super-friendly campus in a residential neighborhood close to downtown Charlotte.  

UAH if she's interested in a STEM field.

 

ETA:  My Atlanta girl is going to college in Ohio largely because she wanted cold weather; yours should come to Atlanta so we keep everything balanced.  

 

Edited by plansrme
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sewanee (University of the South) gives a lot of merit aid; we've known kids who've attended and LOVED it.  Passionate alumni network.

Oglethorpe University in Atlanta is a hidden gem.

Berry College in Rome, GA, about an hour north of Atlanta, gives tons of merit aid and consistently appears on the "prettiest college campuses" lists.

Queen's University in Charlotte gives massive amounts of automatic merit aid (run their NPC), and we've known people who go there who love it.  Super-friendly campus in a residential neighborhood close to downtown Charlotte.  

UAH if she's interested in a STEM field.

I have a ds at Oglethorpe who also had Sewanee and Berry in his final 4 or 5 schools. He got merit at all. Depends on your budget though if it is enough. Berry has a unique scholarship program for students will less than $20,000 EFC. If that applies to you it looked like a great program.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What does she consider small? My dd's school is considered mid-sized with about 9,000 students. That's quite small compared to the nearly 40,000 at that state's flagship, but large compared to a LAC with 2,000 students. I agree with 8 that you have to visit to figure this out (and she can visit local-ish schools to get a feel for this, my kids have visited several schools they had no stated interest in). 

 

Keep in mind that many schools with less merit aid may still have a lower net cost, because the sticker price is lower to begin with. Start with a rough idea of what you are both able and willing to pay, and look for schools that will land you in that ballpark. Agnes Scott is on many lists for having generous aid, but they are also nearly $54,000 a year in hard costs - tuition, fees, room and board. Their top scholarship is $25,000 per year, leaving $29,000 per year plus books, travel, and so on. A family with a $40,000 budget might be slap happy with this, but it's not going to work for a family with a $20,000 budget. 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What are her stats like?  Will she be completive for more selective schools or is she looking for a school in the Furman range?

 

How low do you need your price to be? What stats?

 

 

She's only a sophomore now, but we are starting to research colleges and will do some college visits this spring/summer.  

 

She took the SAT for the first time as a freshman and scored 1460.  SAT Spanish Subject Test - 800  She wants to increase her SAT score and is also hoping for National Merit.  4.0 GPA with 31 credits of DE and will be doing DE full time for junior/senior years.  

 

I would love to keep the price to 20k max for tuition/room/board.  

 

 

 

Furman doesn't have the need aid that it used to have.  They still offer merit aid but no full rides if you want a full ride.  DD was offered their top scholarship (offered to 8 students each year) and it was still $17,000/year for room/board/books/fees.

 

Thank you!  

 

 

 

 

 

FWIW, is your dd positive she wants a small school?  Has she visited?  My dd thought she wanted a small school until she did a couple of overnights.  She decided she found them claustrophobic and actually preferred large publics over small privates in the long run (and this was from a girl who had never stepped in a classroom before.)

 

Her brothers attended a large state school and she is doing DE at community college now.  She said she loves the small size and classes at the community college and is intimidated by a school as large as the school her brothers attended.  I did warn her about the claustrophobic issue with small schools and so did one of her brothers.   

 

 

 

 

ETA:  My Atlanta girl is going to college in Ohio largely because she wanted cold weather; yours should come to Atlanta so we keep everything balanced.  

 

I have a friend in Atlanta and both her kids ended up going to college in the NE partly due to the weather!  

 

 

 

What does she consider small? My dd's school is considered mid-sized with about 9,000 students. That's quite small compared to the nearly 40,000 at that state's flagship, but large compared to a LAC with 2,000 students. I agree with 8 that you have to visit to figure this out (and she can visit local-ish schools to get a feel for this, my kids have visited several schools they had no stated interest in). 

 

Keep in mind that many schools with less merit aid may still have a lower net cost, because the sticker price is lower to begin with. Start with a rough idea of what you are both able and willing to pay, and look for schools that will land you in that ballpark. Agnes Scott is on many lists for having generous aid, but they are also nearly $54,000 a year in hard costs - tuition, fees, room and board. Their top scholarship is $25,000 per year, leaving $29,000 per year plus books, travel, and so on. A family with a $40,000 budget might be slap happy with this, but it's not going to work for a family with a $20,000 budget. 

 

I think she's thinking small to mid-sized.  She just doesn't want huge classes and mobs of people everywhere like she saw at her brothers' school.  $20,000 budget is right about where we are so thanks for letting me know about Agnes Scott (that was the next school I was going to research).  

Edited by Kassia
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

She's only a sophomore now, but we are starting to research colleges and will do some college visits this spring/summer.  

 

She took the SAT for the first time as a freshman and scored 1460.  SAT Spanish Subject Test - 800  She wants to increase her SAT score and is also hoping for National Merit.  4.0 GPA with 31 credits of DE and will be doing DE full time for junior/senior years.  

 

I would love to keep the price to 20k max for tuition/room/board.  

 

 

 

 

Thank you!  

 

 

 

 

 

Her brothers attended a large state school and she is doing DE at community college now.  She said she loves the small size and classes at the community college and is intimidated by a school as large as the school her brothers attended.  I did warn her about the claustrophobic issue with small schools and so did one of her brothers.   

 

 

 

I have a friend in Atlanta and both her kids ended up going to college in the NE partly due to the weather!  

 

 

 

 

I think she's thinking small to mid-sized.  She just doesn't want huge classes and mobs of people everywhere like she saw at her brothers' school.  $20,000 budget is right about where we are so thanks for letting me know about Agnes Scott (that was the next school I was going to research).  

 

 

 

Definitely look at Davidson. Very selective but I think if she keeps her stats in line she'll have a good chance.  I don't know what your income is but they are great with need aid.  We aren't exactly poor but our package from them was very good.  

She might have a shot at the Furman full tuition, but she'll have to show a good bit of interest in the school.  Especially if she is from OH.  

 

 

ETA - smaller schools really protect their yield.  So make sure you show interest.  interest is key in smaller schools.

Edited by Attolia
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

When looking at school size, one thing to realize is that the size of the school is not perfectly related to class size.  Some larger schools still have a high faculty/student ratio and small classes-especially in some majors.  If class size is really driving the desire for a smaller school, I would be sure to look at class size.  Also, at some larger schools, an honors program will provide a student with that "small school" feeling.  

 

Is there a particular area in which she is looking at majoring?  Some small schools tend to be highly focused, which are very good matches for some majors but not so good for other majors.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

When looking at school size, one thing to realize is that the size of the school is not perfectly related to class size.  Some larger schools still have a high faculty/student ratio and small classes-especially in some majors.  If class size is really driving the desire for a smaller school, I would be sure to look at class size.  Also, at some larger schools, an honors program will provide a student with that "small school" feeling.  

 

Is there a particular area in which she is looking at majoring?  Some small schools tend to be highly focused, which are very good matches for some majors but not so good for other majors.

 

We are going to visit one of our state universities in March even though it's a large school.  They seem to have a fantastic honors program plus some other opportunities that would be great for her.  With so many DE credits, I don't think she'd be in many big classes since she'll be avoiding many of the freshman-level requirements.  Her concern with a larger school is having so many people around all the time, but she's still open to attending if it's a good fit otherwise.  

 

She is thinking of majoring in math now, but is mostly undecided.  She could end up in computer science.  She loves languages, but doesn't see any career opportunities that appeal to her other than teaching, which she says she can't do because she's so introverted.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It certainly sounds like she tests well, and that National Merit could be a strong possibility with some prep. If you can do $20,000 a year, that opens up more possibilities.

 

As someone else said, I wouldn't rule out larger schools. Some will have interesting honors programs or special dorms with programs that make a large school seem small. My oldest really thought she wanted a small school, but in the end a large urban flagship turned out to be perfect for her. There are sometimes a better variety of resources at the larger schools too.

 

Get on the parent forum at College Confidential (especially the class of 2020 subforum) and start reading, asking questions. This can really be helpful in finding schools that might not have occurred to you before. Reading the 2018 and 2019 forums can also give you an idea about where the large scholarships are coming from.

Edited by GoodGrief
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

At private colleges, assume a typical merit award will come in at half tuition or less, and you have to be unusually accomplished to get more. That makes your 20K budget a little tough unless you are also demonstrating significant need.

 

Try net price calculators at publics with honors and merit like Alabama, Ole Miss, New Mexico, New Mexico State, ASU, Arizona.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In addition to the ones already mentioned, she would probably be competitive for the Huge Scholarship at College of Charleston http://honors.cofc.edu/admission/scholarships.php (one of the weekends that made Dd feel claustrophobic) and maybe the McNair or Horseshoe at USCarolina. https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/undergraduate_admissions/honors_and_scholars_programs/top_scholars/selection_process/index.php (Not a small campus, but the Honors College is awesome and Top Scholars is great.)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has someone mentioned Rice?

 

Ds received some merit there. Not sure if it was the most they offered. Will you not qualify for need-based aid? Sorry - I haven't read the whole thread.

 

I don't think we'll qualify for need-based aid.  We haven't in the past and that was with three to four kids at home (we were very surprised about this). Dd is our youngest.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think we'll qualify for need-based aid.  We haven't in the past and that was with three to four kids at home (we were very surprised about this). Dd is our youngest.

 

 

They offered a good bit of merit aid in DD's package and they are just a little cheaper than many other schools of their level.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

North Carolina has some schools that offer low tuition for out of state students:

 

In state pays $1,000/year tuition 

Out of state pays $5,000/year tuition

 

There are about $3,000 in fees

And room and board is another $8,000-$9,000 (and some higher cost options in there too)

 

https://ncpromise.com

 

My son got into Western and we are trying to get him to consider it.  $12,000 not only includes tuition, room, and board, but Western builds book rentals into their fees, so there are no book fees!

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

At private colleges, assume a typical merit award will come in at half tuition or less, and you have to be unusually accomplished to get more. That makes your 20K budget a little tough unless you are also demonstrating significant need.

 

Try net price calculators at publics with honors and merit like Alabama, Ole Miss, New Mexico, New Mexico State, ASU, Arizona.

 

She's got a good chance of being NM, though, with a 4.0 GPA.  That looks like fairly accomplished to me (I hope, anyway, for our future finances!)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is mid-sized but has an honors college with an honors dorm. It's a walkable campus (my dd is there with no car). Great guaranteed scholarships based on standardized test score and ACT. It's a great city to get internships and jobs in. 

 

My oldest is in her second year there and loves it. The biggest drawback is the extreme lack of diversity - we live in a diverse city, lots of different colors and religions and languages, and dd misses this. Their airport is meh, so I'd definitely check flight choices if you consider UAH. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not super far south, but she would qualify for full tuition at Lee University where my dd is. It's a Christian college with about 5000 students. That would leave only room, board, and books. It's awarded automatically for the scores, and it's available each semester after the first year with a 3.7 GPA. My dd's there in her junior year on the same scholarship. 

 

http://catalog.leeuniversity.edu/content.php?catoid=10&navoid=5599#Academic_Scholarships

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a brutal scholarship retention GPA! 

 

It is.  My son in college has a merit scholarship and only needs a 3.0 to maintain it.  He went in with a 3.85 gpa from community college, but I am not sure he can keep it that high in a 4 year school.  We will see.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not super far south, but she would qualify for full tuition at Lee University where my dd is. It's a Christian college with about 5000 students. That would leave only room, board, and books. It's awarded automatically for the scores, and it's available each semester after the first year with a 3.7 GPA. My dd's there in her junior year on the same scholarship. 

 

http://catalog.leeuniversity.edu/content.php?catoid=10&navoid=5599#Academic_Scholarships

 

 

Oh man, I would love to send my son to a Christian college, but this looks like it is based on ACT scores.  He is a good student but not the best test taker, and he has taken it twice and not gotten anything near that high.

 

Oh well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's a brutal scholarship retention GPA! 

 

It is high, but they give it to every single student who qualifies as a freshman. After the first year, if the GPA drops to 3.0-3.69, the scholarship drops to half tuition, and it can actually be regained. Every other school we looked at once you lost it, that was it. 

 

DD has made 2 B's thus far. She's in the nursing program, so she realizes how difficult it will be from now on, but she is prepared to do some student loans. She would not be okay with those if she were not going into a good paying, easy to find a job field. She's only had a small amount to help this year with some of her room and board. She has 3 semesters left, so I'm thankful she has done so well. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh man, I would love to send my son to a Christian college, but this looks like it is based on ACT scores.  He is a good student but not the best test taker, and he has taken it twice and not gotten anything near that high.

 

Oh well.

 

Yes, it is solely based upon test scores (ACT or SAT). I wondered how many hoops I would have to jump through as a homeschooler, but all I had to turn in was a one page transcript, no course descriptions, no samples of work, nothing. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh man, I would love to send my son to a Christian college, but this looks like it is based on ACT scores. He is a good student but not the best test taker, and he has taken it twice and not gotten anything near that high.

 

Oh well.

If Lee is of interest check out how much they are to start with. I believe they are (or were at one time recently) the lowest Christian school tuition in the country. Can't remember where I read that so maybe it is off but it is a reasonably priced school.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Lee is of interest check out how much they are to start with. I believe they are (or were at one time recently) the lowest Christian school tuition in the country. Can't remember where I read that so maybe it is off but it is a reasonably priced school.

 

We have.  It isn't completely out for cost ($25K per year) but it is higher than state schools.

 

We will have to see.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have. It isn't completely out for cost ($25K per year) but it is higher than state schools.

 

We will have to see.

I have no idea if they offer any other scholarships besides the automatic ACT ones. My dc have done extensive de at Lee and found admissions folks to be very easy to work with. It might be worth giving them a call to see what they might have to offer. Lee is not the perfect fit for my dc for undergrad but our experience with them so far has been entirely positive. My current high school senior has had some really wonderful and caring professors.

 

But yes, if you have affordable in state schools they would still be cheaper.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no idea if they offer any other scholarships besides the automatic ACT ones. My dc have done extensive de at Lee and found admissions folks to be very easy to work with. It might be worth giving them a call to see what they might have to offer. Lee is not the perfect fit for my dc for undergrad but our experience with them so far has been entirely positive. My current high school senior has had some really wonderful and caring professors.

 

But yes, if you have affordable in state schools they would still be cheaper.

 

Thanks.  It honestly may not be the best fit for my son.  He isn't dying to go there or anything.  I would love to see him on a Christian campus, but he is fine with public and finding a fellowship group or something.  

 

And Lee doesn't fit the criteria of a larger city, out of the snow, and close to home.

 

But it does fit the "inexpensive for a Christian/Private college" box.

 

I will have him take a closer look and see what he thinks before spending too much time on it.  It is 5.5 hours from us, in the opposite direction of older son who is 4 hours SOUTH of us.....oy.  But I dont' think they will be going in the same direction anyway, we will just have to deal with it.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Washington & Lee (top 20 LAC) has excellent merit aid -- approximately 10% of their students are on full-ride scholarships, and if a student is invited to the scholarship weekend he/she will almost certainly receive a minimum of a 1/2 tuition scholarship. (One student got alcohol poisoning on the scholarship weekend and wasnt accepted, so there is no guarantee, but that goof takes a special kind of stupid!)

 

The Johnson scholarships at W&L are amazing. The same person, Johnson, also set up opportunity grants for summer work so students can do really neat things over the summer and get "paid" for unpaid internships, etc.

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has Sweet Briar made enough of a comeback?

http://sbc.edu/

https://www.niche.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college/

 

It was in the news a lot a while back (for not good reasons)

 

Maybe they are willing to give merit aid??

Pretty campus and they have some decent majors:

https://www.niche.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college/majors/

 

I do not know anyone that went there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Regarding Washington and Lee, it's a known BIG Greek school, so make sure the fit is appropriate.  If not, the student can end up feeling VERY alone.

 

Yes and no.

 

I had two kids who went there, neither of whom even considered going Greek. They found other "independents", were involved in campus organizations, had friends, and generally had a good social life. Both of them have graduated; they both say that their education was fantastic and really prepared them amazingly well.

 

1) Dd went to a Ph.D. program in engineering and was very surprised to find out that women feeling discriminated against was a "thing" -- her experience both homeschooling and at W&L was discrimination-free to the point where she really didn't realize that it was an issue!

 

2) Despite her not having an engineering background, she was accepted to the #2 and the #3 grad programs in her field in the country, complete with a generous 4-year NSF grant. W&L obviously prepared her well!

 

No college is perfect, but my kids are living breathing examples of how independents can thive at W&L.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No college is perfect, but my kids are living breathing examples of how independents can thive at W&L.

 

Which is why one needs to know their kid.  My guy goes to the Top 3 in Reefer Madness (as per Princeton Review) college even though he has no desire to use any sort of medication (legal or not) and gets along fine having found his niche, even expanding it while there.

 

BUT, not all can or care to do this.  I know another person's top notch kid went to W&L and it didn't go so well - a very life changing deal - and not a good one.

 

Be wary when sending a student to a school outside their fit.  For some, it works.  For others, it's horrid.  It's a caution flag, not a red flag.  Know your student and allow changes if it ends up not being the right choice.  Money isn't everything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

Ă—
Ă—
  • Create New...