Financial Safeties in the Midwest

whitesox24 · 11-05-2009, 03:08 PM

I live in Illinois and was wondering if anyone could help find me some schools that would be able to offer me good merit aid. I have already found two schools in the south (LSU and Alabama) where I would get full tuition off, but I would like to find some type of alternative to these that is closer to home. I know that its unlikely I would get full tuition anywhere, but does anyone know any schools that are known to have good merit aid. Thanks.

Stats:
UW GPA: 3.3
W GPA: 3.8
ACT: 33
Rank: Top 20% in fairly competitive suburban Chicago high school.

Location: Anywhere in the Midwest, preferrably Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, or Wisconsin
Size: Doesn't matter at all.
Thanks again.

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 03:22 PM

My DS2 had similar stats. He got some money from Drake and St. Louis U. However, even though the amounts "seemed" big, they really weren't big because the overall cost to go there was so high. Their awards (15k each year - $60k total) just made a dent in the near $50k Cost of attendance, leaving about $35k per year to pay.

DS2 is at Alabama. He took the Presidential scholarship (full tuition) and the Engineering scholarship ($2500 per year). So, we only have to pay for his honors dorm, his books, the food that isn't covered by the $2500, and misc costs. Quite the bargain! Alabama is also very generous with AP credit, so DS2 can easily have a double major (or graduate early).

DS2 is pre-med (double majoring in Engineering and Bio), so we can help him with med school costs since were saving with his undergrad costs.

boysx3 · 11-05-2009, 07:05 PM

If you could put Ohio on your list, check out Wittenberg...very pretty campus, always a lot going on, very generous with merit money. Same with DePauw in Indiana.

Jimgotkp · 11-05-2009, 07:49 PM

Indiana is quite expensive like UIUC would be for you. I heard however that Indiana and Illinois has a program where they exchange students from their states to attend the other school for in-state tuition. Maybe you should look into that cause if you can pay 20k for in-state tuition then it is worth it compared to the thirty something thousand at UIUC.

beth's mom · 11-05-2009, 08:13 PM

^^ I've never heard of Illinois having a reciprocity/exchange plan with anyone. I'd be interested to learn more about this.

noimagination · 11-05-2009, 08:58 PM

I don't know about the University of Minnesota's merit aid, but the sticker price is very reasonable.

The University of Nebraska - Lincoln has some good merit scholarships and a fairly low price to start.

OHKID · 11-05-2009, 09:37 PM

The University of Dayton is great with aid. So is Case Western, Kettering, Kalamazoo, Ohio Wesleyan, and Oberlin.

Knowitsome · 11-05-2009, 09:43 PM

UMinnesota-TC is a great choice for their low COA. Another OOS public nearby to consider is Truman State. Still, your in-state public choices will likely be your lowest cost options without merit aid. Having Alabama and LSU being so generous with merit aid certainly warrants keeping them under consideration.

Your stats might be a little low for significant merit aid from these schools, but Bradley and Evansville are relatively low cost for nearby privates and do make an effort to be affordable for applicants. Your ACT is fantastic, so it might depend on how they view the relatively low class rank.

Jimgotkp · 11-05-2009, 10:05 PM

Actually my bad.. I was looking through past posts and it was just thoughts. Illinois and Indiana both have no tuition reciprocity with other states. Minnesota and Wisconsin have one though.

whitesox24 · 11-06-2009, 02:03 PM

Thanks everyone for all of the responses...anyone else?