Another idea for you for under $40,000 total for the 4 years if he wants a cold climate/skiing: two years at a community college (or less if he has AP credits) and then go to Northern Michigan University in the Upper Peninsula in Marquette. The college is very affordable, especially for kids with excellent grades (even out of state). If he wants more challenge than the classes offer, he could do some independent study as well/extra projects/research. There is a ski hill in town. And Marquette is on Lake Superior–lots of fun outdoor activities. There is also another state university even further up north for those into engineering/more technical fields. I think it’s Michigan Technological U. or something like that. They also have a ski hill in town.
My friend’s kids followed this path (local community college and then NMU, with out of state tuition but with merit) and both were very happy with it and are now in outdoorsy jobs they like.
If your son has any interest in liberal arts colleges, Goucher College in Baltimore gives some full-tuition merit scholarships. That would still leave more than $10,000 in costs, but with some loans and earnings on his part it could be within range.
BYU is always a great option for winter sports lovers if he doesn’t mind living in the Mormon microwave!
SUNY Buffalo has a Presidential Scholarship that is the best scholarship in the SUNY system. It is currently (starting this year) a $15,000 flat award. There is a separate application with essay. About 400 apply, and approx 75 get selected for an interview. From that, approx. 25 receive the scholarship. If your son is a STEM kid, he could also apply for the STEM scholarship, which if awarded, pays for 4 years of tuition. The catch is that you have to work in NY state for 5 years following graduation. My son will be a freshman on the Presidential and STEM scholarships in the fall. My older son just graduated from UB and was also a Presidential scholar. His award was a total free ride (books, room, board, tuition). This is the first year they changed it to a flat $15,000-which is still nothing to sneeze at.
Seems that kids who get the presidential have a couple things they excel at (in addition to being great students). My boys excelled in music and sports.
Yes, there is skiing not far from Buffalo, close to Canada and a city that is really improving-lots going on at the waterfront.
Lafayette College in PA offers Marquis Scholarships to high stats students (competitive), maxes out at $40k, would still leave you with $25k to come up with. WPI has the Foise scholarship program, offering 10 full tuition merit awards to incoming freshman students, and other smaller awards. In Vermont, Bennington College offers merit $, but not sure if full tuition. Full tuition merit awards are sparse in the Northeast.