@ClarinetDad16 My point was that for our circumstance, NYU gave merit aid that was based on talent/ academics and not financial need. Many schools do not do that.
D attended NYU in 2008, so the total cost for NYU was more in the $55K range. She was offered $11K per year, bringing her total down to about $44K a year. At that time, some of the pricier out of state, state universities that her friends were attending were close to that $40K price (i.e., Michigan and Penn State.)
If D attended Barnard, Vassar, Wesleyan, Tufts or any of the ivies, she would have paid full tuition (approx $50-55K)–so yes, saving $11K a year was generous! (And that $44K we saved–and kept in her savings account-- is still available to her and she can apply it to grad school or buying an apartment.)
Can we go back a few pages on this thread and remember that we don’t really need to explain anything to clarinetdad16 who is viewing his engagement on this topic as a sport vs. something he is actually interested in?
Anyway, I forget what was posted before but if I were really looking at value for the money I’d have Texas State and Montclair on my lists because both schools apparently give in state tuition (which in the greater scheme of things would even be a bargain if you had to pay out of state) and they absolutely do attract a peer group of top talent. I have no idea about the training one would receive at either school but I sure can vouch for the talent as I personally know more than one amazing kid that selected those schools.
Then there are a whole bunch of private schools that are known to provide big bucks for academic talent. The list for that is long here and will probably include most of the schools often discussed in this forum. Schools like Pace that will fall all over an academic talent but it doesn’t mean they will admit you artistically. Plus schools that will fall all over you academically plus will love you artistically.
Then there are the schools that you can’t get into unless you are a top academic student plus talented or just top anyway.
Then there are the schools that will meet any need as long as you are what they want academically.
Then there are the schools that care how academically capable you are and will give you next to nothing no matter how brilliant you are unless there is need. Sigh.
At Montclair State, in addition to giving instate tuition to OOS students, they also offer merit scholarships. My son got a merit scholarship worth several thousand $ in addition to the instate tuition…though he does have to maintain at least a B average to keep the scholarship for the following years.
I’m generally pretty quiet on CC unless someone asks me a question, but I wanted to mention that students admitted to Music Theatre or Acting at Florida State University receive between 50% and 100% waiver of out-of-state tuition. It’s non need-based; awarded for talent and/or academics. PM me if you have any questions!
Don’t rule out UK schools, regarding costs. I can only give figures for RCS: A BA degree takes only 3 years to complete, not 4-- already giving you a 25% “savings.” After scholarship, tuition for my MT son is approx. $15,500 USD/yr. Yes, there are travel costs and living expenses, but they’re about the same as a US student paying for on-campus R&B. Exchange rates are excellent now, and the school takes US loan $. Great international experience, too.