Are there any colleges in the South with strong business programs around $40K/year all in that would accept an applicant with these stats?
1 Like
Yep -many. UAH. MS State. Some regional schools like Memphis, MTSU, Tn Tech - I have to look up costs but I’m sure. W Carolina is another.
I’m sure schools like Ga Southern and many more.
Def lots of decent schools.
What’s your home state ?
I’d start with - what do you want in a school - size, sports etc.
We are in Alabama. He’d love to go to Auburn but that appears to be a reach at this point. I know Alabama has a good business school but I don’t know if he has the discipline yet to go to such a large school known for partying. He wants an SEC school or at least a school that is strong in a sport that gives the school some spirit. His college counselor has encouraged him to look at Mississippi State, as well. We plan to do that in the next few weeks. He would be more interested in UAH but we live in Huntsville and he wants to get away, which I totally understand. He doesn’t want a politically charged atmosphere, wants a good business/international business program, school that’s not totally Greek life driven, and would prefer not in tornado alley but the last one is a tough ask in Mississippi/Alabama.
Good business schools are all over. He’ll get the skillets. So weather S Miss, Miss State, S Alabama will have some school spirit Auburn tough - Bama in at cost. UAH less sports.
UCF is possible but not likely . Has big 12 sports. But WVU, technically not south, would hit.
There’s really lots of schools. For SEC, Arkansas and LSU plus the two MS might be best at budget. Ole Miss is more Greek but strong in international disciplines as it has the Croft Institute.
But schools like Ga Southern, App State, Memphis have big sports etc. and lots of regionals like Jacksonville in Alabama.
What language will he study. Not all have IB so look but skills wise he can get exposure.
Good luck.
Examples - Memphis is $30k tuition, room and board. Is big time sports but not Auburn spirit.
ETSU 33k. D1 hoops.
Tn Tech $31k
All have intl business. All D1 sports - FCS football.
Coastal Carolina has D1 football. Just over $40k. Merit is hard to tell. App State is under $40 - barely tuition room and board. These two aren’t SEC but they have the major and football passion. In droves. And may both give merit.
Big time schools - MS State is beautiful. Reminds me of Auburn except missing the businesses all around. You go in like a Disney Resort road. WVU is big time. Closer to home - Louisville is just over $40k b4 possible merit. Has an IB minor. And Ole Miss known for international programs.
Back to your first concern - tons of GREAT schools - and I just looked in a few states - there’s more - would want your son. Of course, going to these schools could be overwhelming so students have to adapt. I’ve given you some big time and not in regards to sports.
If you need more - Southern Miss, LSU and Arkansas may or may not hit, N and S Alabama have the major. La Lafayette and W Kentucky are solid sports schools with a minor … I haven’t hit Florida, Ga etc.
So lots of possibilities …but have to figure out what he likes beyond SEC but there’s at least four big time that work and a few close to big time and other D1 but more regional.
Hope that’s helpful.
3 Likes
Wow - this is incredibly helpful! To be honest, I’m in awe of your broad knowledge of colleges. I will go back and read your comments more carefully but I just wanted to be sure to say thanks. This is our first kid in college and I thought we had it all planned that he would go to Auburn. Unfortunately, he blew his freshman year and has improved every year since, but probably not enough for Auburn.
1 Like
Apply early to Auburn and hope. Or if he’s gonna take the test again - maybe apply later to get the result back but the earlier the better there. . But, in general, Auburn is solid but not necessarily going to open up any opportunities that he won’t be able to open up from the others.
Like any student, college is an adjustment and some handle, some don’t.
But you are definitely not in a bad position admission or budget wise.
2 Likes
Coastal Carolina has been a hot school for kids with comparable stats from our area (New England).
4 Likes
Merit seems unsure but with a modest amount it’s under $40k. In the recent past, it’s been big time football.
You can fly from Huntsville (or bham/nashville) to Myrtle. Southwest flies 2x a day to Myrtle non stop.
Thank you for this. I’ll check it out!!
He enjoys Model UN, LOVES history (and is very strong in it), soccer, photography, is semi-fluent in French, strong in English and Literature but weak in math and science, unfortunately. He’s a friendly kid but struggles with ADHD. Would love to find his people, so looking for a school with some nice kids. He also wants to check out Xavier in Cincinnati and Butler in Indianapolis. His college counselor recommended those for him. Do you know anything about those schools?
1 Like
There are kids everywhere with blind spots - ie STEM.
I suspect every school has nice kids. There’s not a requirement - bullies go here and nice there.
There are schools that are known for extra services or support for those who need - Marist, Arizona and a ton more.
Butler and Xavier - neither are in the South per se although neither is that far from Huntsville. Neither is large SEC type. If you’re willing to go that direction, maybe check out Marshall and its HELP program.
Butler is $67k. They give 18-$30k in possible merit.
Wasn’t sure if the gpa was weighted or unweighted. I used unweighted. Got $24k back. Changed to weighted. I got the same. TO would be $20k. So it won’t hit budget.i wouldn’t visit. But if you do and like it you can apply as a flyer.
Xavier is closer distance wise. It’s Jesuit so has a religious aspect. It’s also $67k for tuition, room and board. They don’t estimate but it’s up to $30k a year so it’s likely out of budget. They don’t have an estimator.
I think neither is wise - they don’t meet his desire. You have a budget you need to build a list for it. A great school you can’t afford isn’t a great school. If he requires services, your cost could grow. Some schools charge.
Are you open beyond the South ? If so, where ? I think nice (and not nice) kids are everywhere and kids running around STEM are too. Perhaps others have ideas.
Yesterday you talked about SEC type. Butler and Xavier are hoops schools. Not football.
Neither is likely affordable but if you liked them, maybe a Hail Mary app.
Is his counselor at school or a private counselor ? You might ask why he recommended those two. I’m not a counselor but I am looking at the $$.
Is your son’s gpa weighted or unweighted. If he has a 3.5 showing, Bellarmine in Louisville shows they will match the Bama in state price. If you want Catholic - so not far off Xavier, it might be one to look at. It’s $60k full - if not a 3.5 I can’t figure out merit.
Hendrix in Arkansas has the same but all qualify if admitted. It’s a fine school. In state Bama tuition is about $13k but I can’t see what Hendrix charges but I assume similar.
To hit $40k without aid at privates, you likely need to find schools that need you more than you need them. Butler and Xavier need you but maybe not down to $40k. Hendrix is excellent - as good in my opinion - but may need you more.
A lot of schools listed above and there’s many more that get you under $40k. Butler and Xavier, and it’s just my guess and you can reach out to them and ask - but they likely don’t (nor are they south like you initially stated).
Initially you said the plan was Auburn. Still apply. If he doesn’t get in, in my mind, Ms State is the closest sub. Kids I’ve known from Nashville that go love it.
3 Likes
Well, he would LOVE to go out west but we’ve told him there’s probably no way we can make that happen. Any thoughts on that? He really wants to travel and see the world and is really probably only saying he wants to go to Auburn because some of his friends are going. He has another group who are very gifted and will probably go to schools in the northeast and he now seems envious of that. I think we are going to scratch the plans to visit Butler and Xavier and go visit Mississippi State this week. Maybe also LSU. Part of the problem is that he is not leading this search very well and I think it’s because he’s not 100% set on business. Your advice has gotten us further than we have in a long time towards making some decisions and I really appreciate it!!
Oh and it’s his high school college counselor who recommended those. I think she recommended Xavier bc of the strong business school, basketball and Jesuit education (my dad was a big proponent of that). Maybe she thought he would get aid? I will have to ask her bc it’s a big gap!
1 Like
He can go in undecided most anywhere. Or start in business and if he doesn’t like it - pivot.
UNLV and UNR will come close - b4 merit. New Mexico is worth a look as is NM State.
But does he really want to go far for these that seem to be more regional.
Others like Fort Lewis in Colorado work. Colorado Mesa should work with merit. Northern Colorado is likely out of budget.
Boise Stare for sports schools will be just under budget.
But what type of school does he seek ?
I teach at a Jesuit and I am not baptized and am mostly agnostic. So yes I think the Jesuit schools are decent as they focus on service to community.
You can look up the Common Data Set for Xavier and Butler to see how they compare with merit. I would have him apply (I believe they typically are free apps).
I created a college app only email for each of my college bound kids and requested info from schools directly and got emails for free app codes at a few places so that decreased our cost. It isnt unusual for kids to change their major (both my kids did).
As for out of state travel costs, I always factor in about 3-4 trips for the kid only and maybe 2-3 for parents that first year. My one kid is 12 hours away and we visited more the first year, less the second as he was just simply busy at school.
I totally understand wanting to get out of the state. My WI kids didn’t hate our state but it was really important to 2 of them to live somewhere else for a bit. One ended up in NY, the other will be in MI (so close but they decided it was different enough). Both wanted warmer weather yet chose climates the same as ours so still stuck with winters. I have zero regrets sending my kid so far away as he has come back so much more mature and open to different things. He has been exposed to different people, cultures, and viewpoints.
There are schools out there that aren’t super pricey. My kid off to Central Michigan this fall. D1 school full of spirit, safe college town where they can walk to any store needed pretty much, all suite style dorms (no communal bathrooms), decent food, “Midwest Nice” kids, and kid felt the professors would be very helpful (they even helped guide her major at one of their open houses-thus the change in majors from first application to final decision). Downside is travel there. No oos tuition, starts at 28k, your kid would get 5500 off taking it to 22,500 total COA. My kid is doing their multicultural program which took another 4100 off (around 18k total COA) then my kid got a single local 5k scholarship making our cost quite affordable for us.
4 Likes
I’m not sure how I missed this thread before, but you’ve gotten some good advice already.
Below are some schools, some of which have already been mentioned, sorted by my guesses as to your son’s chance for admittance.
When I use the term sticker price, I am referring to tuition and fees plus room and board, i.e. direct-billed costs from the university. I am not referring to Cost of Attendance which will include personal allowance, transportation, books, etc. as some colleges are more generous in allotting amounts than others.
Extremely Likely (80-99+%)
-
East Carolina (NC): About 21k undergrads at this school with a sticker price of about $35k.
-
Ohio U.: About 19k undergrads. Sticker price is right around $40k, but they may provide some scholarship money.
-
U. of Louisville (KY): About 16k undergrads at this ACC school. Sticker price of about $42k and depending on your son’s weighted GPA, could get $10-12k/year in scholarships to reduce the cost (source).
Likely (60-79%)
- U. of Arkansas: About 27k at this SEC school and your son would qualify for either 50% or 80% off of the add-on for out-of-state students (source). The sticker price is around $45k, but that scholarship amount would either be worth about $10k or $16k, depending on how his GPA is weighted, bringing Arkansas to the $29-35k range.
Toss-Up (40-59%)
- U. of South Florida: About 37k undergrads, and sticker price is about $32k. I did read an article recently that Florida publics may be raising their out-of-state tuition more in the upcoming years, but I don’t know if that is going to happen or if it would be so much that the school would be unaffordable.
Lower Probability (20-39%)
Low Probability (less than 20%)
Another option that I’m going to throw out there is to study at a university with very defined programs abroad. Saint Louis U. (a Jesuit college) has a program where one can do two years in Madrid and then two years at the Saint Louis campus (or all four years in Madrid).
But, your son has been studying French and enjoyed his time doing Model UN. Webster (also in Saint Louis) has a program in Geneva, which is big for U.N. and is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. He could even do all four years here, too.
Neither of them would I consider big ra-ra sports fandom schools (though Saint Louis has more than Webster, I believe), but for someone who wants to travel the world and has your son’s interests, I thought they were at least worth a mention:
1 Like
I think one thing OP has to get in mind is we started South but now have headed to the Midwest and West. We started with rah rah and now are in Jesuit without football.
I think OP, if they target an area and type, can do better.
When they say - we don’t know if we can swing out west - is that from a financial POV or something else?
Bcuz I think we can find schools of all sizes and geography - so they should hone in on what they like (maybe after some visits) and I bet we can help locate some.
2 Likes
At about $50,000 per year, Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida might be of interest. Lots of students major in business.