Maximizing scholarship money - what are the best colleges?

I'm trying to figure out which colleges are known for offering the most scholarship money. Are there specific schools where students usually receive substantial financial aid or merit scholarships?

There are quite a number of colleges known for their generous financial aid or merit scholarship programs.

Firstly, a group of schools called "need-blind, meet full need" schools are known for their generous financial aid programs. These schools, including Ivy-League institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, as well as others like Stanford, MIT, and Vanderbilt, admit students without looking at their financial status ("need-blind") and commit to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.

Many of these institutions have specific policies to alleviate the financial burden for families with medium or even high income. For example, at Stanford, parents with annual income below $125,000 and typical assets don't have to pay any tuition. Similarly, at Harvard, families earning less than $85,000 do not contribute towards their child's education.

On the other hand, there are institutions that are known for awarding significant merit scholarships, such as the University of Alabama, University of Arizona, Baylor University, and Tulane University. These scholarships are often given for academic, artistic, or athletic achievements and are not based on financial need.

Lastly, consider looking into public universities within your home state. Many states have scholarship programs for residents that meet certain criteria. An example would be Georgia's HOPE Scholarship, which provides money to in-state students who maintain a certain GPA.

Remember, when hunting for scholarships and aid, the most substantial resource is often the colleges themselves, so be sure to investigate individual school’s financial aid and scholarship programs carefully.