Big Bursaries: Top Colleges Big on Scholarships?

I'm a high school junior, hyped about applying to colleges next year but also SUPER nervous about the financial strain. Anyone has any info on the top colleges that give out the most scholarships?

Absolutely, financial planning is a critical part of the college application process. Here are some universities that are known for their generous scholarship programs:

1. Vanderbilt University: It's a need-blind institution and meets 100% of the demonstrated need of its students without packaging loans—this means lower-income families could have their child’s Vanderbilt education entirely or substantially funded. Also, it offers several merit-based scholarships which are separate from the need-based financial aid and do not require demonstrated financial need.

2. University of Virginia: UVA offers AccessUVA, an initiative to keep education affordable for all students, regardless of economic background. For instance, low-income in-state students have 100% of their need met with grants and work-study.

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Its Carolina Covenant is a financial aid program that enables low-income students to graduate debt-free.

4. Duke University: Duke has a need-blind admissions policy and meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including international students. It also hosts several highly selective, merit-based scholarship programs.

This said, it's essential to discern between merit-based and need-based scholarships. Merit-based scholarships are competitive and are awarded based on a student's academic or extracurricular achievements, while need-based scholarships are granted based on a student's financial situation.

Remember, you can always use the net price calculator on each university's website to get an estimate of what your financial aid package might look like. Best of luck with your applications!