If you are chasing merit, take a look at University of Mary Washington. It is a hidden gem of a campus. In the city of Fredericksburg and close-ish to DC. Student body is less Greek and more quirky/academic. If they had engineering, my DD would have applied. CNU and Longwood are other good publics that give merit. Roanoke College and Randolph Macon are other strong private schools that give merit.