Which colleges award the most scholarship money?

Hey y'all! I'm sort of stressed out with the thought of paying for college. I'm looking for colleges that offer a hefty amount of scholarship money. If anyone has any pointers on how to identify these colleges, I'd really appreciate it.

Finding colleges that offer generous financial aid packages can greatly help reduce the cost of attendance. Here are some schools known for their robust aid programs:

1. Harvard University: Families earning less than $85,000 pay nothing towards the cost of attendance, while families earning between $85,000 and $150,000 pay between 0 and 10% of their annual income.

2. Princeston University: Known for its robust financial aid program, with over 60% of its students on financial aid, and the average aid grant, covering 100% of tuition, room, and board, being more than $50,000.

3. Yale University: For students from families with less than $75,000, Yale ensures that they have a zero parental contribution.

4. Brown University: They have a "Brown Promise" initiative where they replaced all packaged loans from undergrad financial aid awards with scholarship funds that don't have to be repaid.

5. Vanderbilt University: Known for its merit-based scholarships, which include the Ingram Scholars, Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, and the Chancellor's Scholarship. These cover your full tuition, and some even provide a summer stipend.

Remember, it is not just the Ivies or elite private universities that give substantial financial aid. Many public universities also have rigorous financial assistance programs. The key is to look at 'Net Price' instead of 'Sticker Price'.

When researching, use schools’ net price calculators to get a sense of what the college might cost after scholarships and grants. Make sure to note if schools are 'need-blind' (where the ability to pay doesn’t influence admission decisions) and if they meet 100% demonstrated need (cover all of a family's financial need through a package of aid). If they meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans (like the schools I listed), the package will consist entirely of scholarships, grants, and work-study—rather than loans.

I hope this helps! Remember, every little bit of scholarship money reduces the amount you'll need to borrow or pay out of pocket. So apply for scholarships, both large and small, and take the time to thoroughly explore each school's financial aid programs. It could save you a significant amount of money in the long run!