<p>Your son’s class rank likely puts UT-Austin out of reach and possibly A&M as well. That said, it’s likely worth the $ to apply to A&M. Tx Tech would better fit his class rank, but his ACT & SAT scores would put him well above the average. And, going to school in Lubbock is not for everyone – some like it, others don’t. I know both types – some who loved it and others who define heaven as … Lubbock in the rear view mirror.</p>
<p>Nebraska, Arizona, and possibly Arizona State are schools for you to consider since they may give your son enough $$ to bring the cost well below your threshold. </p>
<p>Arizona sent my older son a letter with all the scholarship information in it (their National Scholar Award), but he had the higher Hispanic scholar designation. They may also send it Honorable Mention as well. Arizona is reasonably good science & engineering school, just not as good as A&M.</p>
<p>There is a link in another thread to a scholarship estimator from Nebraska. Putting in your son’s data into that calculator indicated that he had a good chance at enough $$$ to fully offset out-of-state tuition (thereby making it cheaper than A&M). Nebraska is your typical, large land-grant type school. It’s good enough academically that the Big Ten wanted it (and there are MANY schools with good football teams that the Big Ten would not touch due to academic concerns.)</p>