I think you won’t really know your options until you get SAT scores. It also depends on your financial situation. Even some schools that only offer need aid (like Colby College in Maine) have put a cap on what middle-income parents pay. I think 15K is max if you make 150K or less. So some really solid Liberal Arts Colleges might be in order.
Again. Run the net price calculators.
There are schools that are known for merit in the NE. They are not always in the super “elite” category. The reason being, is that high stats students stand out, and they reward them for that. Again, the more elite the school the more likely they are need based, and the more elite, even if they offer merit scholarships, tend to offer very few and tend to have high SAT cutoffs…
The selective, but not super-elite schools, tend to offer merit right off the bat. I’ll highlight the ones who are very generous.
St. Lawrence
Muhlenberg **
Gettysburg **
Ithaca College **
Clark
Clarkson
Ursinus **
Dickinson
Allegheny **
These might be safeties, but they also might be financial safeties, too.
Best of luck.