Universities with good financial aid packages?

Hi all, I'm starting my college search and financial aid is really important to me because I know my family can't afford to pay full tuition. Can anyone recommend universities that are known for offering good financial aid packages to students?

Hi! It's great that you're considering financial aid as part of your college search. There are several universities known for offering generous financial aid packages to students. I'll provide you with a list of some of those institutions, which generally fall into two categories:

1. Need-blind schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need: These schools do not consider your ability to pay when making admissions decisions, and they commit to covering your full demonstrated financial need. Some examples include:

- Harvard University

- Yale University

- Princeton University

- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

- Stanford University

- Dartmouth College

- Vanderbilt University

- University of Pennsylvania

2. Schools known for generous aid and scholarship programs: These schools may not be need-blind, but they still offer strong financial aid packages and have merit-based scholarships available:

- Rice University: Offers both need-based aid and The Rice Investment program, which covers tuition and fees for families earning less than $130k per year

- University of Virginia: Meets 100% demonstrated need and offers merit-based scholarships such as the Jefferson Scholars program

- Duke University: Meets 100% demonstrated need and has merit scholarships like the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program and the Angier B. Duke Scholarship

Additionally, many liberal arts colleges provide excellent financial aid packages and can be good options as well:

- Amherst College: Need-blind and meets 100% demonstrated need

- Williams College: Need-blind and meets 100% demonstrated need

- Swarthmore College: Need-blind and meets 100% demonstrated need

When evaluating schools, I recommend using each institution's net price calculator on their website to estimate your potential financial aid package. Keep in mind that the actual amount of aid can vary depending on your specific financial situation, but these calculators can give you a general idea of what to expect. Good luck with your college search!