I think most of these schools will be over $50k since you’re OOS. You might qualify for a few scholarships at South Carolina or UT but they get more competitive each year and it’s still expensive compared to in-state. Look on their websites. Run the NPC’s for the schools.
Florida and UGA would be academic and financial reaches. Syracuse and VT will not be affordable.
Data point of 1: my D25 had a higher SAT but similar GPA and got a scholarship from South Carolina which took the COA down to just under 39k, so that app may be worth a shot.
Assuming she meets all the academic requirements, I think:
U of SC is likely - and will be under $50K with merit.
UTK is likely - and is a tad under $50K full pay and there should be merit.
UGA - toss up to no - and is under $50K
UF - toss up but leaning no - is under $50K.
UMD - likely - and hits cost
Va Tech - no reason to bother - direct costs are over $50K and you’re not getting merit
Syracuse - better to do is SUNY ESF - which will hit budget and you get SU thrown in. SU unlikely to hit. SU is adjacent and ESF shares the facilities, etc.
The school you’re missing is Alabama. Why do I say this - if you’re looking at UGA or UF, it’s the same - but with easier admission standards and substantial merit. For your student, direct costs (tuition, room and board) is under $27K - and they give many kids the next level up (you’re at $24K off right now).
WVU was another good suggestion. And if she likes U of SC, then I’d recommend FSU - an admit at the level of UGA so not easy - but full price is under budget - and it’s more likely than UF.
If you’re ok with smaller, UT Chattanooga would be a good choice for the major
If she’s think about joining a sorority add-in some more expenses. Some can get costly.
FSU might be a possibility. Their OOS acceptance rate is around 20% and her stats would probably be in the mid-range. She wouldn’t get the OOS tuition waiver but could do study abroad first year and get in-state the next 3 years.
NC State could also be a possibility. It would be close on costs.
The State schools in North Carolina have the lowest out of state costs. Which is why Chapel Hill is single-digit OOS acceptance rate. NC State strong in the sciences. And ACC sports. UNC Wilmington is not rah-rah (no football), but their focus is bio/environmental.
The other big rah-rah in that region which is attainable is Clemson.
If you are headed up into mountains for WVU, then Penn State may also be an option. Or UPitt.
I think less than $50K eliminates UNC, basically eliminates NC State and definitely eliminates Clemson and Penn State and likely Pitt. Once can hope for merit at PItt but…
I believe VT’s OOS tuition/R&B costs are currently around $51,000. Of course that doesn’t include incidentals and may be higher or lower depending on whether the student lives on or off campus. Quite a few MD students at VT. Not much merit there although some OOS applicants get small offers of $3000-$7000 per year (most get the $3000). Note that they raise OOS tuition each year.
I think the stats may be on the low end for NC State and Clemson as an OOS applicant (maybe a summer start at Clemson). Both schools are wildly popular with OOS state students (especially Clemson for the football environment). App State may be a good alternative (with possibly a little merit). UGA & UF both reaches for OOS. She can try other FL universities like FSU, UCF, USF, FAU. Florida publics tend to have some of the lowest OOS tuition rates.
Rushing a sorority at any of the SEC schools will add significantly to your overall costs.
Va TECH is $54960 direct costs in 25/26 with extra fees for the following which likely won’t hit OP - but the overall cost is out of budget with merit unlikely.
College of Agriculture and Biochemistry Majors: $750
College of Architecture: $1,500*
Building Construction: $2,000
College of Engineering: $2,000
Pamplin College of Business: $2,550
*(Includes majors in Architecture, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture
I just looked up my bill for her senior year 2024/2025. I paid $36,126 OOS tuition for the full academic year, which included all of the misc. fees VT assesses (OOS tuition alone for the year, minus the fees, was $34,376). The cost per semester for Pamplin was $675 or $1,350 for the year, which was included in the $36,126. She lived off campus her senior year. Her rent for the year was $8640. Water and WiFi was included but she had to pay power separately. Her monthly cost on that (shared apt) averaged $50. Idk how much her food costs were when living off campus. She was a frugal shopper and mostly cooked. Didn’t eat out much. I can only access my most recent bill but I fell like we were below $50k for 3 out of the 4 years and maybe $51k-$52k her senior year because there were graduation fees that last year. We also live under 3 hours away, so minimal travel fees and costs for supplies and books were minimal for her program. She bought her laptop with high school graduation money so no additional cost there.
Every student’s financial mileage will vary depending on what degree program they are in and the type of experience they choose to have. Even when living on campus, the dorms are at different price levels depending on newness, location, a/c, etc. Meal plans are at various price levels, so costs can be tweaked a bit there.
Tuition and fees are $38914 in 25/26 - which obviously the student is later. Here is the COA - the link is titled oddly but it works.
If OP wants to hope for merit, sure - but it’s unlikely to hit $50K - and yes, sometimes you save moving off campus.
It’s - in my opinion - the nicest large school in America and who wouldn’t love to go to a school with top rated food. But this one is budget busting.
Yes, please move on from the back and forth about the COA VT! The OP has more than enough information to make a decision if that particular school is affordable.