U of Alabama has automatic admission and automatic merit scholarships for specific GPA and test scores. Here is the table with information for this year: https://scholarships.ua.edu/freshman/out-of-state/ The cut-offs might change for next year.
When you have ACT or SAT scores, you should ask in the Financial Aid forum about merit-based aid for your GPA and scores.
“Academic Excellence Scholarship
Amount: Up to $6,500 per year
Academic Excellence Scholarships also qualify for non-resident tuition waivers.
Qualifications: …In the Fall 2019 class, the average Academic Excellence Scholarship awardee had an average total score of 1290 on the new SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math) or an ACT Composite of 27, with a class rank in the top 13 percent and a GPA of 3.95 (on a 4.0-point scale). Academic Excellence Scholarship awarding for the Fall 2019 class has concluded. Additional information about Fall 2020 Academic Excellence Scholarship amounts and requirements will be announced in Fall 2019”
Site: https://www.uh.edu/financial/undergraduate/types-aid/scholarships/
I agree with @h8annah. I know you REALLY want to go outside of CT, however, you’re looking at roughly triple the tuition.
“My parents have money and we can afford ANYTHING.” I hear that argument all the time, and most the time it’s wishful thinking. You need to have a talk with your parents about what you can actually afford. If you want to do technology, you’re better off staying in-state anyway. Most tech employers are small/medium size companies that recruit locally or regionally.
You can still go out of state, just look at scholarships. You’ll find them in less populated regions like the south and southwest. Check out Univ of AZ or Univ of AL. Other schools will waive the OOS tuition if you have high stats, such as University of OK or Oklahoma State Univ.
Yes, a 20K budget with no FA eligibility is going to be tight even for some in-state schools. To go out of state at that budget will require serious bargain-hunting. Your GPA is very good, but a lot of what will be available to you merit-wise will depend on your SAT/ACT as well - hard for us to make good suggestions without that missing piece.
You may want to look over this list of programs that offer reciprocity to CT residents through the New England Board of Higher Ed “Tuition Break” program: https://www.nebhe.org/info/pdf/tuitionbreak/2020-21/2020-21_Tuition_Break_CT_Residents_BACHELOR’S.pdf The downside is that you have to stay in an approved program in order to keep the tuition break; but if you see something you like, it might bring it within budget.
Outside of reciprocity, the best bargains aren’t going to be in coastal locations. Truman State is a good example of a very high-quality public liberal arts college (the honors college for Missouri) that has a very affordable OOS price (25K/year) and automatic merit based on stats https://www.truman.edu/admission-cost/cost-aid/scholarships/automatic-scholarships/ that would be likely to bring the cost down within your budget. It’s a good place for an undecided student, as it isn’t too huge (6K undergrads) and is pretty flexible about choosing/changing majors. But it’s neither coastal nor urban.
Goodwin College has AMAZING science programs, even nursing. The tuition comes in right around 20k, but you would have to commute from home. I don’t know if they give scholarships. If you do though you will be a top choice because of your high GPA.
@aquapt My parents raised the budget to 32k a year!
Thats still very low even for some state universities like UConn. You are barely there, you don’t want to overextend your self financially. Have you considered student loans or other forms of outside funding?