To get merit, you have to research what school gives merit (are buyers) and which do not (are sellers).

If you want merit, look for schools that are “buyers.”

Anonymous wrote:DC was offered tuition covered at U of Arizona. We know some happy kids there, plus Tucson is a great town and a true change in scenery and culture.

This was before their recent huge money problem revelation?

Kid received enough at Kalamazoo College to bring price down to $25,000, full tuition at Juniata College to bring price to $13,000, and $15-$20,000 at UVM for a final COA of $45,000, and others.

Attending UMD for $30,000.

In my observation there seems to be two things going on with small SLAC that aren't sitting on low acceptance %, big endowments, and top rankings.

Some schools are cutting tuition from 20-30k a semester to 20-30k a year.

Other schools are offering a steep sticker discount. In a lot of cases it brings the cost down (before FA) to amount to the same thing:

30k tuition
15k room and board.

I don't think this is a coincidence. I think it might be what the market will bear, what a donut hole family can probably manage to pay. In our case I'm not quite sure how, but that's our problem. I think it's probably a realistic cost of what college 'should' cost.

Full ride at Wisconsin (requires degree specific focus, but she can double major to do what she actually prefers)!

Anonymous wrote:My DD got $42,000 merit at Allegheny and $44,000 at Susquehanna. Other offers ranging from $27,000 to $40,000 merit at PA, MA and MD slacs. 4.1 weighted and 29 ACT.

Schools probably hate this so I'm not going to name my kid's gender, major, or exact stats but less merit at Allegheny (sub 30k), and stats above 3.5 weighted. We could use 42k, congrats!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS was offered full tuition at several small slacs you've never heard of (and not in his major) so he declined all.

Why did he even spend time and money applying to them?

Can you say which?

Anonymous wrote:Are these award amounts per year? Or total over 4 years?

Per year! Signed, mom of kids who got great packages from Scranton and Loyola -- two schools I'd be proud to send my kids to!

Doesn’t seem helpful unless people also provide their out of pocket number

My DD got $40k from St. Lawrence U. Top 10% at the public school.

Anonymous wrote:DS was offered full tuition at several small slacs you've never heard of (and not in his major) so he declined all.

Why did he even spend time and money applying to them?

DS got 30k/year at Connecticut College ED (I think they must give something to everyone ) and $35k/year at Ursinus. Withdrew the rest of his apps so don’t know about the others.

Are these award amounts per year? Or total over 4 years?

DS was offered full tuition at several small slacs you've never heard of (and not in his major) so he declined all.

Anonymous wrote:My DS got merit at all or most of his schools - the trick is to apply to schools a bit below what you could just barely get admitted to - safeties for you will give you money.

+1. Apply to a lot of safeties and watch the merit offers roll in.