While the net price calculators are helpful in “weeding out” initial choices, you don’t know what your kid will get until they open up that envelope. My son’s first choice did not give much, while others dropped a large amount of grant and need based awards in his financial aid letter. He could not afford his first choice, even though on the calculator it appeared that we would be paying similar amounts. He graduated with much lower debt, and has a great job in the field of his choice. Do all the homework, but you never know - I still recommend applying to a range of schools - I still often hear that families can’t afford “private schools” and they are still surprised when I share that it cost us less to send our son to a private school than to our state flagship. Close to $9,000 a year less.
@ThankYouforHelp Amherst and Princeton have outstanding financial aid programs but they only offer need-based financial aid. Neither gives merit scholarships. This could account for the difference between their awards and other ones.
@TiggerDad By “grant” do you mean a merit scholarship? If you do, you are correct that Amherst won’t match those other offers.
Need to be careful when extrapolating from Royal’s survey of its customers. They are enrollment management experts, and mostly deal with colleges that are not a difficult admit. So, our AP Stat kids would realize that the title of this thread requires explanation…
My guess is that the kids who go to expensive schools these days have their educations financed by wealthy grandparents, are very wealthy, or qualify for need based grants. Those in the middle go to state school or schools that offer generous merit aid. I would guess that the 40% is students whose parents earn too much to get need based aid, other than loans, and earn too little to afford full tuition and the kids are not getting any merit aid.
@ymfs123 Well said.
@ymfs123 Totally on target.