Allegheny was, I believe, among the earlier smaller colleges to establish a computer science proram, and would seem to be worth exploring for your stated criteria.
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OP - we really need stats (GPA, SAT/ACT, and highest level math and your home state although it sounds like you’re from a WUE state…plus need you to fill out that Vandy NPC I linked above - to see if you’ll qualify for aid. If you won’t, then we have to find you colleges that meet your cost either in actual or with assured merit - such as UT Martin that I sent earlier.
Others would be Cal Poly Humboldt (WUE), Montana Tech, and Southern Oregon that would meet your criteria.
But please provide the info I requested and we can collectively maybe find more.
For example, SUNY New Paltz, with merit if you qualify, could get to under $30K.
Thanks
University of Portland is a good school in the NW that often flies under the radar. Good connections for CS jobs in the area.
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But over $70k. Is $40k plus in merit realistic ?
Yes. Daughter received $42K a year merit. Son received $24K merit with similar stats. More reasonable than even a UC.
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People don’t realize how much merit scholarships the schools out west give plus an excellent education with a generally high acceptance rate. Take Santa Clara, for example, ROI is tremendous plus the merit can be over $25K a year.
Although tuition could still be $40K, after you graduate in CS, there’s opportunities in the Silicon Valley and high ROI. Of course you do have higher cost of living being in the Bay Area.
Another program is Chapman. They do have a high costs, close to $90K, but they will give scholarships of $40K and again making their cost competitive. Plus, you can’t beat living in Orange. Great weather, nice town, good food. Not sure about the job prospects, however.
Of course that is more than $30K a year. But not too far off and programs that are easier to get in, with a great area to live, good solid schools, with potential for job opportunities.
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OP doesn’t want a big metro / urban area. Is U Portland isolated from the city ?
Don’t know OPs stats but if they are ok with a catholic institution, sounds like a great add, but not assured to hit $30k. Has to make sure he has at least one that is.
That said Whitman might be another. They give an aid pre read. So you’ll know the cost b4 applying.
UP is not in the city. It’s in a suburb near St. Johns on the north side of the Willamette River. It’s a beautiful school in a beautiful city. There’s so much to do there, hiking, skiing, restaurants and foods. It’s a great place to live. Cost of living is slightly above “average” but no sales tax is great. It’s not a party school and has little recognition outside of the West/North West, but if you choose to live in the area, Washington, Hawaii or California, there are many, many graduates. The Catholic aspect does exist, but it’s not pressed on the students and less than half are Catholic.
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I agree the campus is great, IMO it does feel somewhat religious with priests around and a two course theology course requirement (total core course requirement is 40 of 120 credits.) Just something for OP to research, but could be an option as it could get close to OP’s price range, see college navigator net price info below.
https://www.up.edu/faith-and-spirituality/index.html
https://college.up.edu/theology/undergraduate-programs/theology-core.html#
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=University+of+Portland&s=all&id=209825#netprc
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@cc88288 I hope you come back and answer the questions everyone has asked so we can better help you.
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Thanks @tsbna44. I’ve been going mad running a ton of NPCs, and there’s a fairly wide range so I need to do some more research …
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Check out New Mexico Tech.
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I’m going to third? the recommendation for South Dakota Mines & New Mexico Mining & Technology.
I don’t think anybody has mentioned Missouri S&T (Science & Technology) yet. It has about 5500 undergrads and someone with the stats mentioned in the OP would get $13k in merit aid, which would bring the school to right around the $30k mark, and I think there are options for additional scholarships (source).
If you’re in a WUE state, these are some other schools I’d consider:
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Cal Poly - Humboldt: About 5600 undergrads
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Sonoma State (CA): About 5400 undergrads
Outside of WUE states, you may want to look at:
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Millersville (PA ): About 5700 undergrads
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Salisbury (MD): About 6300 undergrads
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Truman State (MO): About 3300 at Missouri’s public liberal arts college that has a relatively large CS program, and the school overall really punches above its weight.
Some of the SUNY (NY) schools like:
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SUNY Polytechnic: About 1900 undergrads
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SUNY New Paltz: About 6500 undergrads
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SUNY Oswego: About 5700 undergrads
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SUNY Fredonia About 2900 undergrads
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SUNY Brockport: About 5400 undergrads
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Good suggestions, all. Thank you!
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There’s a couple of private schools in San Antonio Texas that comes to mind. University of Incarnate Word, St Mary’s, and Trinity (excellent engineering/CS). The financial aid package could put you in the 30k range. Trinity tends to offer decent scholarships.
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FYI the OP’s criteria.
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I ran a ton of NPCs and you’re right— most came in at 35-45k range — but were a few that came below 30k. But they are very selective. Still, good to do some due diligence.
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When deciding whether to keep schools in contention or not, I would do a couple of things:
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Note if the NPC included academic stats or not. If not, and if the school offers merit aid, you might want to reach out to an admission officer to see if there’s an estimate as to the minimum amount of merit aid that a profile like the given one might receive (as well as a maximum) so that you can have an idea as to the school’s affordability.
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If the NPC does include academic stats, you can look (or ask) whether the school stacks scholarships (or will only give the highest value one), what the background of recipients is for non-automatic scholarship recipients (or if a given profile would be competitive for a non-auto scholarship)…I’m talking the Big Merit™ scholarships, not the $500 scholarships for the intended major ones.
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If a school’s NPC/scholarship charts indicate a price that is slightly over budget (like less than $5k, preferably less than $3k), then it might still be worth an app as the school may end up giving additional merit aid to secure enrollment or there could be scholarships for the major or other things that might be able to bring the school within budget.
Just some thoughts as you work to develop an affordable list of schools to apply to.
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