Good but not tippy-top student looking for CS matches/reasonable reaches

Two quick things:

The counter to Bama is UAH - in Huntsville, great city, smaller school, and lots of intern opportunities - will be dirt cheap. It’s known for tech…similar to a Missouri S&T. Did you look at Mizzou - I think I labeled you’d go for in-state + $2.5K off if I read right. Also, Bradley, your COA will be under $30K.

As for loans - since you’re parents won’t take part, you can only get $5,500 - so that’s a nice protection - i.e. you won’t go over the top.

Frankly, and you might have some trade offs, but you can go many places for under $45K. Even a big, Sports, Greek school like a Bama, etc. you can always find your crowd.

But check out UAH which in many ways is superior on the CS/Engineering side - it lacks the big sports (theirs is hockey) and extensive greek life.

I’ll throw in another great school although not known for CS - but your parents would save a boat loa of $$ and it’s a great name - Truman State - your tuition alone after scholarship would be $8K - so you’d be out $21-22K.

In the end, that gives your family big time breathing room.

In other words, a mid -size school might suit you better since you don’t want the sports/Greek…if you can save that much $$, maybe it’d be worth it.