Without even applying, they told my kid she’d get $14k in merit. I think they can be pretty generous for the right student.
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But this is the mistake. Alabama is $52k. If she gets $10k, it costs $42k. If gets $28k then you are $24k.
Purdue, as an example, is $40k. If you get nothing it’s $40k. Forget it’s not near the ocean. It could be cheaper than others with merit.
Just an example.
FSU and other Florida schools are priced right.
But others may give merit and still cost more.
You do you - but you need a budget.
If it’s $5k, then it’s $5k or $20k but you need a place to start.
Getting merit doesn’t matter per se.
Getting to a cost matters.
Some schools full price can cost less than others after merit.
I’ve done this twice. I’ve spent $140-150k all in two kids. I’m full pay but we worked the system.
If you have great stats there are possibilities to stay low.
If you are in VA, CNU is wonderful.
Ok please stop. Im on this thread asking for college recs. I dont need a financial lesson. Thank you.
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And I provided a lot up top.
I’m just saying the # of possible schools is high but may not work for you.
Good luck.
What are her grades and test scores? Merit depends on that.
Student is in 10th grade.
She is a straight A student, hasnt taken SAT yet, 3 year volunteer at large aquarium, varsity athlete and many clubs. Again, just trying to understand merit. Some schools just dont really offer it. Trying to find out those that do.
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Let me be factual -to what you asked.
You said Mid Atlantic and South- and a certain distance from water - so I’ll assume a few hours - here is every school or every reputable. I included the three NC Promise schools that would work - because while there won’t be merit, tuition is $5K.
You’ll have to check to ensure majors match.
Hopefully this helps you.
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware State (HBCU)
Maryland
Goucher
McDaniel
Johns Hopkins
UMD
UMBC
St Marys
Salisbury
Stevenson
Washington
DC
American
GW
Marymount
Virginia
CNU
GMU
Marymount
Old Dominion
Regent
Mary Washington
W&M - very limited
North Carolina
E Carolina
Elizabeth City State - no merit - but $20K all in (tuition $5k)
Fayetteville State - no merit - but $20K all in (tuition $5k)
UNCW
UNC Pembroke - no merit - but $20K all in (tuition $5k)
South Carolina
Charleston Southern
Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston
SC State
U of SC Beuafort
Georgia
Augusta
Georgia Southern
Florida
Barry
Eckerd
FAU
FGCU
FIU
Flagler
Florida State
Florida Tech
Jacksonville
Miami
UNF
New College
Nova SE
Rollins
Stetson
Tampa
USF
West Florida
Alabama
Springhill College
U of Mobile
U of South Alabama
Mississippi
U of Southern MS
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Rollins gives generous merit.
Here is my thread, but unfortunately it is focused on schools that give big merit for NMSF/NMF.
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To clarify, this list does not include schools from the northern Middle Atlantic States, such as Stony Brook, which could make an excellent choice for the study of marine biology.
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Stockton University in south NJ has a good marine science program. Out of state full cost of attendance is about $37,000/yr plus they offer merit. They have a housing option right on the beach in Atlantic City and shuttle to campus.
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If you are willing to go outside your desired geographic footprint, the University of Maine has a well regarded marine science program. They offer quite a bit of merit - including to OOS -from what I understand. I have two friends with kids studying marine bio at Eckerd and I believe both got good merit but I don’t know what “good” means to you (it’s different for everyone - I think one kid got around $15k). As I am sure you know, kids are very limited in terms of what they can borrow under their own names (about $6k per year) so I don’t know what kind of merit would get them where they need to be. Both kids I know at Eckerd really like it as does the student I know who is studying marine biology at Maine (obviously a huge difference in climate from Eckerd). This is a good list of average merit awards and you can search by college (it’s not perfect, but a good place to look for info). Merit Aid by Institution – College Transitions
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My average 3.7 30 act student was offered $10,000, and we are in state for Stockton, so I’d assume higher merit for oos students. My kids needed merit, you want to apply to schools where your stats are at the very top to get $, the more selective the school, the lower the merit.
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I guess she hasn’t she taken the 10th grade tests? Mine took the SAT10 or the PreACT. One or both of those was standard at my kids’ school.
I just have one in college and don’t have as much experience as some posters but we did find more merit where D22 was the top of the crop, which was not the most selective schools (she had a 3.7). We found that many private schools rather than public schools give more to top students, too. But it just depends on her grades and scores and extra curriculars. Most schools, public or private, have at least one full ride. If she’s got a unweighted 4.0 now and can continue with the highest rigor courses available (APs IB, Honors) and can maintain her As and get great SAT and ACT scores then she could have a shot anywhere.
For example UNC Chapel Hill (notoriously selective for OOS) has a great Marine Ecology program (within the Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences Department) and a campus at the coast. Super hard school to get merit from, but for the right student there is the Morehead-Cain Scholarship which provides a full ride and other perks. But if you are in North Carolina and have a family income of $80k or less there is another option even if the Morehead-Cain doesn’t pan out. For those North Carolina families under that income threshold full tuition is covered! Eligible NC families making below $80K to pay no tuition | UNC-Chapel Hill.
Duke has a similar income based free tuition scholarship with a higher cutoff ($150k annual income) for both NC and SC residents. Also great environmental science program.
Other schools in NC to look at are UNC-Wilmington and East Carolina University. They both have Marine Science programs and opportunities for great scholarships too.
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Thanks, we are not in NC. She took the PSATs but honestly I dont remember what she got since it doesn’t matter unless she goes for National Merit Scholars. Her 4.0 is unweighted and she is on honors and AP track. So far, her top choices are USC, UNCW, and probably Coastal Carolina. With the 2 SC schools, she can get in state tuition due to a reciprocity agreement with our state. Just hopeful to get any aid we can as she has plans for vet school then to specialize in being an aquatic veterinarian. Will be an expensive path.
These private schools even with aid, are still more expensive than OOS public universities so thats definitely something we will think about.
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Students who are budget conscious can’t always afford to “go away”. Run the numbers. Usually the in state option comes out the cheapest. But sometimes there are some surprise schools out there.
And for us the private schools with scholarships were much less than the OOS publics but it just depends on the school. Our D22’s private school runs around 28K after her scholarships. In state tuition for us at our publics would be around $24K.
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Just an FYI, the National Merit qualifying PSAT takes place junior year. It really can open up a lot of doors merit wise so she should definitely prep for this test. Typically taken October of junior year.
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That sounds like an interesting path. You might look at some people who are aquatic vets and work backwards and figure out how they got there.
And one caveat — my oldest is in vet medicine (vet tech) and being a vet, at least a regular small animal pet vet, is one of the highest stress jobs out there with one of the highest rates of suicide for a profession. There’s a program called “Not One More Vet” that addresses this. The high rate of suicide is due to a combo of factors and high student debt is one of them so good to be chasing merit and eliminating as much debt as possible. Other factors are the high emotions at pet vets (euthanasias, sad or irate clients, etc) and the easy access to drugs that can kill humans too. Hopefully it’s not the same for aquatics but just something to be aware of as her mom and you are doing great to try to keep that debt down.
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Yes we learned this the hard way with my son! Thank you! She plans on taking it junior year, our school does not advertise this information and its a shame. I found out after it was too late that my company awards 50 scholarships per year for children of employees through an application process that is handled by NMS. Its 3k per year renewable each year. She will definitely be going all in on that opportunity.
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