I have no idea about need-based aid. It’s just so unpredictable. It shouldn’t be, but it is. The EFC provided by filling out the FAFSA was 100% ignored.
Baylor’s and SMU’s scholarships (merit aid) didn’t bring the cost to anywhere NEAR a Texas public school - even at their top-most levels. They filled in some of the gap with loans, but even so it was almost twice the price of a public.
A friend of mine got a pretty decent need-based aid package from TAMU. Try it and see what you get…
UT-Dallas is an excellent school (all dorms are brand new, all single rooms- sweet!) that offers generous merit-based aid based largely on SAT scores. You lack something like 5 points for a 50% scholarship. Bump it up a little higher and you’ll get full tuition and fees -PLUS- $2k/year stipend.
http://oue.utdallas.edu/aes/ (If the link doesn’t work, search ‘UT-Dallas AES’)
- Achievement * Average SAT (Critical Reading + Math only): 1345 - Average ACT: 30 $3,000 per semester applied toward UT Dallas tuition and mandatory fees Total value over four academic years: $24,000
- Distinction * Average SAT (Critical Reading + Math only): 1436 - Average ACT: 32 Complete coverage of UT Dallas tuition and mandatory fees $1,000 per semester cash stipend to defray the costs of books, supplies and other expenses Total estimated value over four academic years: $55,224
- Honors * Average SAT (Critical Reading + Math only): 1528 - Average ACT: 34 $3,000 per semester cash stipend to defray the costs of books, supplies and other expenses Total estimated value over four academic years: $71,224
I’ve seen scholarships for Hispanic students. There are also awards only open to you, something like National Merit. I would check those out.
College websites are notoriously hard to navigate; Google - or for better privacy - Bing is your friend!