Hi all, I've come across the term 'full need met colleges' a few times and I'm not sure what it means. Can someone explain it to me and maybe give some examples of schools that fall into this category? Thanks!
Full need met colleges are schools that commit to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted students, based on the information provided in their financial aid applications (such as the FAFSA and CSS Profile). This means that once a student's financial need is determined, the college provides a financial aid package which covers the entire cost of attendance (COA) minus the student aid index (SAI).
It's important to note that the composition of financial aid packages may vary from school to school. Some full need met colleges offer aid packages that consist primarily of grants and scholarships, while others may include a mix of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
Examples of full need met colleges include (but are not limited to) many Ivy League schools (such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton), Stanford, MIT, Vanderbilt, and Amherst College. These schools typically have large endowments which enable them to offer financial aid that fully meets the needs of their students. It's worth noting, though, that admission to these schools is generally highly competitive, but if you're admitted and demonstrate financial need, you can expect a financial aid package that covers 100% of your demonstrated need.
Always remember to use each institution's net price calculator to estimate your financial aid and the actual cost of attendance before applying. This can help you determine if the college is a good financial fit for you and your family.
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