My son got a 1520 on his SATs (800 math/720 english). He just got his AP grades back and earned 5s on all five tests - calc BC, physics C (two of them), english, and computer science A. The problem is his unweighted GPA is only a 3.5.
Our AGI for the fasfa will be about 95k with a family of four - showing about $10k EFC from what I can tell. But this is a fairly recent change in our finances, so we don’t have savings. We can’t afford to help with more than about $10k/year and because he wants to study physics - which will require graduate school - his goal is to get through undergrad with as little debt as possible. That’s going to mean merit scholarships.
Can we get some suggestions on schools that have good physics programs AND strong merit aid for high scores but not necessarily valedictorian/4.0 students? He’s a rising senior, looking to start college fall 2018.
What is his weighted GPA? The University of Alabama-Huntsville gives very good merit.
3.5 (not 3.499) can clear the GPA threshold for some merit scholarships.
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ lists some, but check on school web sites for changes since the list was made.
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/ has competitive large merit scholarships, though they may be substantially more competitive than their stated minimum GPA and test scores to apply.
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ has more if he did well enough on the PSAT to make National Merit.
PhD study in physics should be funded, but professional school (e.g. MD, JD, teaching credential, etc.) is likely to cost money.
Are in-state public universities (which state?) affordable?
His weighted GPA is 4.3
He is in Pennsylvania. His graduate interests lie in PhD, academia, I suspect (right now he wants to be an astrophysicist), which is another reason he doesn’t want to accumulate a ton of debt! 
And unfortunately we’re pretty sure he’s a point or two too low to make the National Merit in our state.
Unfortunately, it looks like being in PA means that both the CSHE and PASSHE schools are unlikely to be affordable without merit scholarships, except for possibly whichever one is close enough to commute to (based on their net price calculators).
“Unfortunately, it looks like being in PA means that both the CSHE and PASSHE schools are unlikely to be affordable without merit scholarships, except for possibly whichever one is close enough to commute to (based on their net price calculators).”
That’s why I’m looking for schools with good merit scholarships. 
That’s a solid weighted GPA in addition to a perfect SAT math. Run the Net Price Calculator for Grinnell and see what you get. Admissions and merit awards are holistic and they meet full demonstrated need. It may not come back as your cheapest option but it might still be affordable. Solid physics and math programs (and freaking gorgeous science facilities) and an open curriculum which the geeky types like. Also a top feeder for grad programs.
Any PhD program worth attending will be fully-funded (in the US; they make you pay in the UK).
In the OP’s situation, a competitive (or even lower) net price may result from need-based aid instead of merit. If the net price calculators show an EFC of $10K, and you can cover that EFC, then you’d need a full ride merit scholarship to do much better than what you might get in need-based aid from a rich, selective private school.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2016-09-19/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need
3.5UW is a little low for admission to many (not necessarily all) of those schools.
It’s enough (combined with the scores) for a full-tuition scholarship from the University of Alabama, although the resulting net COA (for R&B etc.) will be at least a few thousand dollars over a $10K limit. In that case, some “self help” (student loans, work study) would be in order to help close the gap. As @PurpleTitan points out, a good PhD program shouldn’t require additional debt.
“In the OP’s situation, a competitive (or even lower) net price may result from need-based aid instead of merit. If the net price calculators show an EFC of $10K, and you can cover that EFC, then you’d need a full ride merit scholarship to do much better than what you might get in need-based aid from a rich, selective private school.”
My understanding was that we wouldn’t qualify for any need-based aid. I’ll look into these!
Use the net price calculator on each college’s web site to check eligibility for need-based financial aid at that college.
University of Alabama, Huntsville will give him a minimum of full tuition. If they go by weighted GPA, he will get full tuition + on campus housing.
http://www.uah.edu/admissions/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships/merit-tuition-scholarships
I can’t believe I didn’t find this post sooner! I was just like your son (I’m a 2017 high school grad, class of 2021 college) last year. I was almost exactly in his shoes. :o I agree with @Otterma Grinnell may be your best option. I wasted my time applying to a lot of colleges (17), but when I was accepted, I found that not only was Grinnell my best FA package, but it also was one of my highest ranking schools. By the way, my family made the same as yours and our EFC was about $11,000 and I’m from upstate NY, so I probably live in the same geographic region. I’m from the Binghamton area. I have $10,000 a year to pay at Grinnell, but I didn’t get the highest merit package (my APs weren’t as high as your son’s). $5,000 of that is Unsub fed loan and $4,000 is sub institutional (Grinnell) loan which means my parents are only paying $500/semester out of pocket and I’ve already started paying off my loans. I haven’t even gotten to campus yet! Seriously, have him apply no matter what. There’s no application fee and no supplemental essay. Other possibilities may include Allegheny College (not quite as prestigious as Grinnell, but is up and coming), Lehigh, and Laffayette. If he needs someone to talk to about Grinnell, I’m more than open to talking to him. We could Skype, phone call, e-mail- whatever he prefers.
I agree that if your AGI is 95K you’ll qualify for a lot of aid (combination need and merit, or need alone) at some LACs with strong science.
Note that for a career in academia, he will not have debt in grad school: any PhD worth doing will be fully funded. If he can’t get fully funded somewhere, he should veer off a PhD programs as he’ll have no positive outcome.
Beside Grinnell, listed above run the NPC on Lawrence, St Olaf, Skidmore, Connecticut college, Lafayette, Union, Earlham, Wooster, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Reed.
You can try your luck with PSU Schreyer and Pitt honors (Pitt is likelier since it’s test based whereas Schreyer is more strength of curriculum+essays+ECs)… Some instate applicants get great packages although most students don’t. Apply in September and forget about them.
(I would NOT refollend the PASSHE schools for a student with these resukts and/or who wants to continue to a PhD).
I agree that if your AGI is 95K you’ll qualify for a lot of aid (combination need and merit, or need alone) at some LACs with strong science.
Note that for a career in academia, he will not have debt in grad school: any PhD worth doing will be fully funded. If he can’t get fully funded somewhere, he should veer off a PhD programs as he’ll have no positive outcome.
Beside Grinnell, an excellent idea (listed above) run the NPC on Lawrence, St Olaf, Skidmore, Connecticut college, Lafayette, Union, Earlham, Wooster, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Reed. Perhaps UPuget Sound, Whitman, Willamette, Davidson, Emory-Oxford, perhaps Bates, Bowdoin (those would be definite reaches), Kenyon. Many of these have an outstanding record of PhD preparation and admission.
You can try your luck with PSU Schreyer and Pitt honors (Pitt is likelier since it’s test based whereas Schreyer is more strength of curriculum+essays+ECs)… Some instate applicants get great packages although most students don’t. Apply in September and forget about them.
(I would NOT recommend the PASSHE schools for a student with these results and/or who wants to continue to a PhD).
UMN TC and IU both offer significant merit to students who apply between August and October. The Honors college is quite good.
UA Huntsville would be another possibility.
UA Tuscaloosa no longer gives the automatic scholarships it used to and the new amount isn’t sufficient for your budget.
UTD is a good contender, he qualifies for top AES (full tuition + stipend) and can apply to McDermott (full ride plus, very prestigious, very selective).
Below are the net price estimates I get from the College Board NPC, assuming a $95K annual income for a Pennsylvania family of 4:
$10,100 Colorado College
$12,520 Bates
$12,802 Haverford
$15,334 Grinnell
$16,635 Dickinson
$17,140 Lafayette
$17,835 Macalester
$21,923 Lawrence
$33,650 UPittsburgh
$37,160 Temple
Most of these net prices are within a few thousand dollars (+/-) of what you’d pay after a full-tuition merit scholarship (rather than n-b aid) from other schools.
YMMV.
@MYOS1634 UTD AES award is not garunteed and they will look at grades and rank and McDermott will look at grades and rank too. I’d only make the effort if you can document that 3.5 GPA is top 5% of you class. Apply to UA Huntsville it’s a quick easy app and their merit is assured.
FYI the net price calculator for Temple is wrong and has been for a while. It seems to be double the actual price.
Seconding Penn State Schreyer – don’t bank on it, because acceptance is not guaranteed and it may or may not be affordable, but I’d keep it as an option. There’s the scholarship every entering Schreyer freshman gets, plus potentially grants from the state, scholarships from the college (mine is engineering), and/or scholarships for his major, when he enters it.