Rate My College List [CT resident, 4.0 GPA, 32 ACT, <$40k; CS or AE major]

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Since my last post may have been a bit dispiriting, here are some suggestions of schools that are strong in engineering and would be very likely (if not guaranteed) to meet budget. As a head’s up, when I list the annual costs for your family, I am referring to tuition and fees plus room and board as listed in College Navigator (the feds’ website).

There are small schools, medium schools, and large schools here. Rural to urban schools. Schools with big athletic spirit and schools that are not known for that quality. If you can let us know if any of these resonate (or repel) and why, that would help posters to provide better-targeted suggestions for you.

  • Clarkson (NY): About 2700 undergrads and offers very generous merit aid, probably generous enough for your qualifications to get within your budget.

  • Iowa State: About 25k undergrads and you would receive a $12k/year scholarship here (source). This would leave your family with about $26k in costs.

  • Michigan Tech: About 5700 undergrads here. You’re eligible for a $17k/year scholarship here (source). This would leave your family with a bill of about $37-38/year.

  • Missouri Science & Tech: About 5500 undergrads here. You’re currently eligible for $16k/year in merit aid and if you get your SAT up 10 points or ACT up 1 point, you’d be eligible for $20k/year (source). So this school would be around $28k/year, and possibly $24k/year if you can boost your score slightly.

  • South Dakota Mines & Technology: About 2200 undergrads here. Sticker price is around $24k/year (it’s nice the state is using its oil boom for higher ed). And you’d get an additional $7k/year in merit aid (source) bringing the price down to about $17k/year.

  • U. of Louisville (KY): About 16k undergrads here. You’re eligible to receive $16k/year in merit aid here (source). This would leave your family with costs of about $25k/year.

  • U. of Minnesota – Twin Cities: About 39k undergrads here. You’re eligible for $15k/year in merit aid here (ran the NPC with the max income and asset amounts to ensure that only merit aid would be provided). This would leave your family with costs around $35k/year.

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