None of my in-state schools (VA) interest me, and my parents aren’t willing to pay for an out of state school without scholarships (and I don’t qualify for any financial aid).
What strong engineering schools offer good merit scholarships? My parents are willing to pay half tuition at a private school or an out of state school that gets the cost down to near in-state, although not necessarily in-state.
General stats:
34 ACT (took it once), 4.4 GPA in a competitive district/school, should have 12 AP classes + multivar/linear algebra completed before I graduate. Could get national merit semifinalist but I’m not really sure, and I haven’t taken the SAT anyways. I am interested in mechanical or nuclear engineering.
I have no particular interest in location, although being away from VA is a plus.
I mostly see Alabama, USC, CWRU, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Northeastern, Drexel, Miami, and a few others listed. Any thoughts on those? I’ve also seen that California State Polytech is pretty cheap and has some scholarships - any thoughts on that as an option?
Thanks for any replies!
Your preliminary list looks sensible. People who like CWRU often consider Rochester, WPI, and RPI as well. My DS got a generous merit scholarship from CWRU with similar stats to yours, and he’s enjoying his ME program there. CWRU will also give an additional scholarship if you’re National Merit Finalist and list them as your first choice.
Take a look at University of Alabama Huntsville. With your ACT and GPA you’d be automatically eligible for full tuition plus housing. My daughter just visited them a couple of weeks ago for their first Engineering Open House, and both she and my husband – a former aerospace engineering student – were very impressed.
my sister attends UA tuscaloosa so I think I would prefer going there haha, but my dad was very impressed with their facilities as well
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has really awesome merit scholarships to out of state students. However, it’s in a small town (9000 people). BUT they have a mechanical engineering class in explosives and you learn how to blow stuff up. You can even get a minor in it.
@jollymama anything in particular to know about cwru / wpi? I’m not overly interested in going to new york though.
"anything in particular to know about cwru / wpi? I’m not overly interested in going to new york though. "
Neither school is in NY. ???
I know several students at WPI and they all love it. It’s much, much smaller than Bama, has an excellent robotics program, and strong connections with the Boston engineering community.
Take a look at Olin, also. It’s a very small, one-of-a-kind school that’s also affordable - automatic grants to all admitted students. If I could go back to college again, it’s where I would want to go!
@twoinanddone jollymama mentioned 2 other schools in NY which I was referring to
If we’re going with tech schools, I would also check out Stevens- it’s in Hoboken so right next to NYC & also has great business & STEM combination programs.
Pretty cheap for instate local residents, not so cheap for OOS. It’s a public state school that wouldn’t provide any funding for OOS students.
Look at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville if you are interested in nuclear engineering; the program there is highly rated. Also, you would qualify for an automatic $18,000 annual Volunteer Scholarship as an OOS student: http://onestop.utk.edu/scholarships/volunteer/, plus the opportunity for competitive merit Chancellor’s Scholarships: http://onestop.utk.edu/scholarships/chancellor/.
Cal Polys are not known for merit, particulatly not for OOS. They want your OOS money.
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Could get national merit semifinalist but I'm not really sure, and I haven't taken the SAT anyways. I am interested in mechanical or nuclear engineering.
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Well, you need to take the SAT…are you?
What was your PSAT? You cannot make NMF if you don’t take the SAT by Dec. I suggest that you sign up for the June test if you can. Send scores to NMCorp as a free choice. Code 0085
If you become a NMF, Texas A&M will give you full tuition and a lot of times more than that. I have known numerous full rides. UT Dallas would give you a good scholarship just for your stats and if you are a NMF a full ride.
@mountaingoats I don’t think Stevens gives merit aid, and it is super expensive. Facilities are old and outdated.It is near NYC though.
OP - take a look at Rowan University in NJ. Gives great merit aid, extremely well funded and very up and coming place with a sold engineering reputation (and growing)
UMD is a great engineering school, but they don’t give big merit.
@mom2collegekids
Cal poly’s oos tuition is relatively cheap from what I remember seeing, unless I was reading old information.
I’m not going to take the sat unless I get semfinalist, I’ll have plenty of time to take it if I get nominated.
Temple - Full tuition with 3.8 and 32 ACT
Louisiana Tech - Full tuition with 3.0 and 32 ACT
Texas Tech - $6000/yr (plus auto in-state tuition) if top 10% and 32 ACT
Texas State - MOST of tuition if top 25% and 32 ACT - (ELECTRICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ONLY)
Not exactly the top schools, but very good deals. And all ABET accredited.