This second list is a series of schools (D1, D2, and D3) that would be likely or extremely likely admits and have records of producing solid students. They all have a varsity football team, but are not extraordinarily known for their sports teams (like U. of Alabama). All of these schools also offer merit aid sufficient merit aid that they should fall within budget. Also, all my caveats at not being an expert apply here, too.
Here’s the second list:
D1
- Bryant (RI): About 3200 undergrads, very much focuses on business majors
- Butler (IN): About 4400 undergrads
- Christopher Newport (VA): About 4400 undergrads
- Drake (IA): About 2800 undergrads
- Elon (NC): About 6300 undergrads
- Fordham (NY): About 10k undergrads
- Furman (SC): About 2300 undergrads
- U. of Tulsa (OK): About 2600 undergrads…according to the school president, about 25% of the entering class were National Merit Finalists.
- Wofford (SC): About 1800 undergrads
D2
- Truman State (MO): About 3600 undergrads
D3
- Augustana (IL): About 2300 undergrads
- DePauw (IN): About 1800 undergrads
- Hendrix (AR): About 1100 undergrads
- John Carroll (OH): About 2400 undergrads
- Kalamazoo (MI): About 1200 undergrads
- Lake Forest (IL): About 1700 undergrads
- Luther (IA): About 1600 undergrads
- Muhlenberg (PA ): About 1900 undergrads
- Pacific Lutheran (WA): About 2300 undergrads
- Rhodes (TN): About 2k undergrads
- St. Olaf (MN): About 3k undergrads
- The College of New Jersey: About 7k undergrads
- The College of Wooster (OH): About 2k undergrads
- The University of the South (TN): About 1600 undergrads
- U. of Puget Sound (WA): About 1700 undergrads
Lastly, make sure you only select a school if you’d be happy at the school not playing your sport. You never know when an injury, your interests, or something else will come to bring an end to your varsity career.