<p>[[Yes, but most kids I know who choose Miami do it at least partly because of the large guaranteed scholarships.]]</p>
<p>Yes, I am sure that some kids at Miami of Ohio are getting merit aid that aren’t getting it from Ohio State. I think that needs to be broken down a bit. Right now there’s a 100 point gap in the average SAT score and a 2+ point gap in the average ACT between the two freshman classes. Miami of Ohio actually runs banner ads on these forums stating that a 26 ACT will guarantee you a scholarship. At Ohio State, a 26 or 27 ACT will guarantee you a spot on the deferred list and maybe even a rejection, so yes there are kids getting scholarships to Miami who don’t get them to Ohio State. In the same vein, I’m sure that there are kids in the 24-25 ACT range who get scholarships to Ohio U. or Cincinnati who don’t get them to Miami.</p>
<p>What happens in the 30+ range when Ohio State actively wants these students? As Sparkeye noted, Ohio State has the resources to throw $50MM towards increased undergraduate scholarships out of what is essentially “couch cushion” change (i.e. the university’s unrestricted investment pool which is another $1B separate from the $3.1B endowment).</p>