@promom4 --has something changed with Purdue merit this year? The OP updated and stated the student just made a 34 on the recent ACT.
Purdue gave my daughter $10K per year for the 2017 admissions seasons. ACT 34, 3.98 UW GPA.
@elodyCOH —it’s not guaranteed merit, but University of Pittsburgh has solid merit for OOS students with those stats and even better if he can get that score to a 35. There were several with ACT 35 this past year who reported getting full-tuition. Pitt has Bioengineering but students don’t have to declare their major for an entire year and then they get to choose their major.