Generosity of Colleges and Universities

I'm starting my college search and I'm looking for generous grants and scholarships. Are there any lists that rank colleges based on their financial aid generosity?

While there isn't a single definitive ranking of colleges based on financial aid generosity, you can find a wealth of information on this topic by researching each individual college's financial aid policies. Looking at the percentage of financial need that a school typically meets for its students is a great metric. For example, schools like Stanford, Princeton, and Harvard are all known to meet students' full demonstrated need, meaning they'll cover the difference between the cost of attendance and what your family can afford.

Additionally, you might want to consider the school's policy towards merit scholarships, as some are more generous than others in this field. For example, University of Alabama, University of Southern California, and Boston University offer notable merit scholarship programs for high-achieving students.

Another important factor to pay attention to is whether the school employs a need-blind admissions policy (like Vanderbilt), where your financial needs have no impact on the admissions decision.

An excellent website where you can research each individual university's financial aid policies and see how much aid they typically offer is CollegeVine's school profiles. On each school's profile, you can see the average financial aid package, how many students receive aid, and more. CollegeVine also has a chancing engine where you can input your personal information and it will calculate your potential for receiving aid at various institutions.

While lists can be helpful, remember that each family's financial situation is unique, and not every school will assess your need in the exact same way. Always use the net price calculator for each school you're considering to get the most accurate estimation of costs. This will help you determine which schools are most likely to offer you a generous financial aid package. Keep in mind that you can appeal the financial aid package if it doesn’t meet your needs. A key to this process is clear and effective communication with the school’s financial aid office. They want to make attending their institution possible for you. Good luck with your search!