Okay here’s a list of test-optional schools, in or with access to a coolish town/city, with merit funding of some sort. You can check the merit amounts by googling and Then click on the “money” page to find info about merit funding amounts and percentages.
These are from the Fairtest List and maybe the list needs updating. You may need to double check just what they mean by “test optional” or “test flexible”
These numbers are on average amounts of merit, not individual awards.
Willamette University – 28% at 22K
Whitman (Walla Walla is very small town though maybe too rural)
Wheaton in Mass (40 miles from Providence) 30% at $21K
Wesleyan University – not much merit here – 21% at 25K
Ursinus – 40 miles from Philly but not on direct train line. Maybe too rural.
University of Rochester – $14K average merit for 30% of the students
Union College in Schenectedy – on Amtrak line to the City – $14K merit to 30% of students
Trinity in Hartford – 4% of students had no need and received $25K gift of merit
Temple University in Philly – 18% received $9K in merit
Susquehanna U – 20% received $22k
Rollins – 29% received $26K
Quinnipiac – 26% received $16K
Providence College – 20% received $16K
Pitzer – consortium school of some of the best schools, virtually no merit, but great need-based aid.
Marist – 30% received $9K (on MetroNorth line to NYC)
Manhattanville – 21% received $18K
Lewis and Clark – 27% received $18K
Lake Forest – just outside of Chicago – gorgeous campus – gives great merit (I’ve known people to get sizeable amounts here)
Knox College (in small but cute town) 13% received 22K
Kalamazoo – excellent Ph.D.-feeder school, 25% got $22K
Ithaca–25% received $16K
Hofstra – 20% received $20K
Hobart and WS - 32% received $14K
Goucher – 26% received $20K
Gettysburg – 18% received $16K
George Washington – 29% received $20K
Fairleigh Dickinson – 11% received 18K
Emerson in Boston – 24% received 14K
Earlham College – 9% received $25K
**** Drew University – first it’s sticker price is lower than most. Also for merit: 18% received $21K****
Clark University – 34% received 19K
Champlain – 8% received 10K
Bucknell – 11% received 11K
Bryant – 11% received 16K
Brandeis – 10% received 14K
Bard – 1% get 21K
American – 8% get $14K