Schools Offering Much Financial Aid

Trying to be super practical here, but the price tag of college is definitely a concern. Does anyone have any ideas on which college grants the most financial aid? Money isn't everything but it would definitely help to lessen the burden.

I totally understand your concern about the cost of college; it's a major factor for many students. Typically, colleges offering the most generous financial aid packages are often well-endowed private schools (think Ivy League and other highly selective colleges). These schools commonly meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.

A few examples are:

1. Princeton University, which is known for offering one of the most generous financial aid programs. They follow a "no-loan" policy, replacing loans with grants in financial aid awards.

2. Harvard University, where families earning less than $85,000 per year pay nothing for their child's education. Those earning between $85,000 and $150,000 pay no more than 10 percent of their annual income.

3. Yale University, which also offers substantial aid, especially for families making less than $75,000- you generally won't pay anything in such circumstances.

4. Stanford University, where parents with an income below $65,000 and assets below $150,000 (excluding retirement accounts), typically won't be expected to pay anything towards tuition.

While these schools are some examples that grant significant aid, be sure to check financial aid policies at other colleges too. Each college has a different formula for determining financial need and the amount of aid to be awarded, so it's a good idea to use the net price calculator on each college's website to get an estimate of what your financial aid package might look like.

Finally, remember that while these highly selective schools offer substantial financial aid, they're also very competitive to get into. So, alongside these, consider other colleges with solid aid programs and a wider range of admissions rates. It’s always a good strategy to diversify your college list. Let me know if you have other questions!