Refining the list -and looking for some mid-sized schools to add [3.85 GPA, <$30k, possibly biology or communication disorders / speech language pathology]

[AustenNut]

On this thread, this was one of the last posts talking about the college application list, and then there was a discussion about whether Conn College or Brandeis should be added.

In today’s Parents of the C/o 2026 thread, you shared this:

@ali-ice

We just started really delving into the schools on my daughter’s preliminary list . Basically looking at them in depth and trying to figure out if they should make the final list. She is realizing that she doesn’t have a really well defined major/career path. And while I think she’d love the small class sizes at a LAC -she was really happy with the large number of major options she saw at University of Rhode Island. She knows she wants Biology related OR Health related fields -but she wants more options than JUST Biology. She saw Animal Behavior at one place and that really appealed (but again not set on any particular path.) So we aren’t exactly back to the drawing board -but I need to see what other coastal or great lakes schools might work for her.
I have Miami University (Ohio not Florida), Loyola (Chicago), DePaul, University of Rhode Island (with hope for Honors college) - all of these require her to get a good scholarship to attend - and while possible, it isn’t guaranteed.
Thinking maybe I should add Syracuse? Michigan Tech might actually work but SO isolated -and I’m not sure that appeals at all, maybe some SUNY schools because they are generous with OOS scholarships?
I looked at Oregon State at one point but we have a limited budget and the calculator wasn’t friendly

Question for the group: Anyone know schools that have a lot of medical and bio related majors that maybe ALSO have small class sizes? Or other schools we should look at that I missed above? She basically wants Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, or West Coast. Ohio does NOT appeal but Ohio (Miami) has some really great pre-health programs --and the campus itself is nice. (Also VERY generous out of state) -but generally we are avoiding red states.

From the schools I mentioned upthread, I’d still look at Ithaca, Marquette, and West Chester. The two privates have been known for generous merit aid, and West Chester has a lower sticker price to begin with that may be able to get within budget. I’ll be back after giving your post some more thought .