@CaMom13 you’re right. I guess it’s not a “bargain.” Don’t forget the Pell Grant too.
Agree with @Gapyearguru on NYU. They gave D a nice merit scholarship as well. We pulled her apps early in the game, but did receive the FA package from Pace prior to withdrawing app. NYU gave her more money. University of Alabama gave nothing, and her dad is an alum. Go figure.
@CaMom13 - if your friend is in CA also, how about the state schools? If cross-country trips are do-able, I recall the SUNY OOS tuition being very reasonable. Purchase and Fredonia might be worth a look. Maybe others also?
LOL @Atreuh our local “state school” is UCLA! 
He’ll apply but I don’t know if he has the grades. Also, he’s really someone who wants to train in a more conservatory setting, even though strict conservatories are probably out of budget. The Cal States are a possible option but Fullerton is the one with the best rep and it’s a cut program. I’m thinking San Diego State will probably make the list.
Ohio U gave D19 a significant merit award. They also have the Ohio Guarantee, which is a tuition lock for 4 years. (Might also be a lock on room and board, too, now that I think about it.)
WVU also gave D19 a significant merit award. So two public universities giving large merit awards for OOS students.
UNCSA has a not-too-expensive OOS tuition rate and room and board is somewhat reasonable. They give smallish merit awards but in our case, it brought our out of pocket cost to roughly that of our in-state arts school.
@camom13 - NYU has merit aid ONLY for people who have financial need. So you have to have at least some need, but once you do – then there are multiple bases on which they base their packages. I learned this the hard way last year since my kid had merit strength but got nothing because no financial need (according to them!)
I think they may be changing their ways @MomofJ5. It seems like a couple of folks on the board without substantial need received nice packages this year. I’ve decided I now know nothing, lol.
Thank you @OrangeFish - love your avatar but it no longer matches your user name!
@CaMom13 Also passing info on The New School merit $, between D and other classmates the range was $8k-10K-$12K. On almost $67K per year COA, ouch.
Yeah so another one doesn’t go on the “bargain” list, lol. Thanks @NYDreammom - this is an aspiring film and tv actor and I don’t think TNS would be a fit anyway.
My D received an email from CalArts this morning - accepted off the wait list!
@Atreuh SUNY Purchase OOS is around $38,000/year. May be more affordable than a number of the other schools talked about on these threads but still didn’t put it in the “really affordable” category for us.
Congrats @actinghopeful !!!
Congrats @actinghopeful !! Great news!
Yay for waitlist movement! Congratulations @actinghopeful !!! I hope other folks waiting for a spot hear soon.
@CaMom13 Texas State is a rock bottom bargin! All accepted kids get in-state tuition and the facilities are the best we saw anywhere! Otterbein was extremely generous with talent and merit. U of AZ offers some kids in state tuition as well or other fairly generous talent and merit awards.
Super, thanks @frontrowmama !
@artskids - my enthusiasm about the SUNY price was probably in contrast to University of Michigan – where we were told they award “very little” aid (merit or need based) to OOS students, on the $60K COA (and that was 2 years ago).
LOL - I was just thinking about how Michigan was one public program that would never make the “bargain” list! I think they make their annual budget on out of state student fees because the MI state legislators are unsupportive of education. Speaking of which - props to Indiana! Their state schools rock. My eldest (non-actor) went to Purdue and when we first visited we were stunned at how much it felt like a private school to us - super facilities, everything well-maintained, cutting edge systems and constant emphasis on improving the campus… it really hit home how accustomed we were to the rampant neglect of facilities at the UCs. 
My D and I leave for NYC tomorrow morning! D has narrowed it down to 4 schools - LIU Post, Rutgers/Mason Gross, Pace FTVC, and NYU Tisch. We’ll be at NYU Weekend on the Square Saturday & Sunday, Monday we’ve arranged a tour at Pace, Tuesday we’ve arranged a tour at LIU Post. The 4 schools have such different programs from each other. I’m hoping visiting the schools will help my D make a better decision.