One thing to consider when comparing UMN and UIUC would be locations and opportunities. Minneapolis might be worth the $4000 premium and the “lifestyle” that it provides. On the other hand, some of these scholarships have a certain minimum GPA component and as smart as these kids are, you really never know how it plays out. UIUC has a tremendous Business school and getting accepted is an achievement by itself.
I got my estimated financial award yesterday in the mail.
Maybe it is a Big ten thing but Rutgers also decides on tuition and any increases in R&B and Fees in July, but the increases have not been as big as Uminn.
I think one of the problems with Illinois is their OOS tuition is quite high and they give very little money to OOS students. And except for business and engineering, I’m not sure it’s the cost is worth it. In our case my husband and I went to Illinois but we are now living in Wisconsin. My D got accepted to Illinois engineering last year but we decided it wasn’t worth the cost when we had a good in-state school (Madison) that costs significantly less. And while my D actually liked the campus, Champaign is not necessarily the draw that some other locations might be. In addition, with Wisconsin and Minnesota having reciprocity a lot of kids go OOS to the other so it in-state enrollment might be lower.
I know NJ exports more college age kids out than any other state, but it seems to me if some states have reciprocity that would lead to more kids leaving the state for those schools.