Safety school match me [IL resident, 3.8 GPA, 34 ACT, 1430 SAT, <$40k; chemistry or physics -> neuroscience grad]

So three’s no point in applying to your reach schools - unless the NPCs show a lower price. ANd you said no need aid expected. So if you want under $40K. So Swat is more than double and has no scholarships.

So Bama and Ms State (vs. Ole Miss) are the easy to know ones - but you say Bama is too big - but then why look at UMN?

So for much less - you can try - a UAH (Bama’s much smaller and as inexpensive cousin), a Truman State (midwest), a Kalamazoo for LAC since you have Swat. You might try Depauw too in Indiana as well as Juniata, Ursinsus, and Susquehana in PA… The Florida Schools would also be less expensive - but are big - but so is UIUC.

W Carolina is $20K all in - it won’t have the “quality” of student you might want.

Miami of Ohio and Ohio U would likely make budget. Millersville in PA would most certainly but is very local. Salisbury and Christopher Newport would be two more to hit target - more local. Like Truman State, CNU has a very good rep. College of Charleston may - if you went for the Charleston Fellows Program. Tennessee Tech might be another that could work for you.

UAH would be worth a look - very strong in engineering - so likely decent in sciences too. Like Bama, they have automerit. You’d be about $18K-ish. It’s surrounded by defense companies in a city deemed one of the best for young people

Good luck

Charleston Fellows Program - College of Charleston (cofc.edu)

UAH - Admission & Aid - Freshman Out-of-State Academic Scholarships

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