<p>Does Kiplinger also include merit scholarships in computing the averages? Some of the schools may have generous in-state merit scholarships.</p>
<p>^ The figures I cited were from Kiplinger’s “Best Values in Public Colleges”, column 8. That column is labeled “Cost after need-based aid (in-state)”.</p>
<p>What does Kiplinger count as need based aid? Do loans count? We recently received DS financial aid info from Illinois and it is nothing but loans! He did receive a small academic merit scholarship, and we are waiting on merit from the music department, but right now they have us paying almost the full COA, either now or later.</p>