<p>What do people mean when they say that most colleges are cheaper than the sticker price?</p>
<p>That’s not always true. For those who don’t qualify for aid, they do pay sticker price. </p>
<p>At schools that don’t have institutional aid to give, people pay full price (minus student loans)…unless the student qualifies for state or fed aid. </p>
<p>However, if a student has “determined need” and the school gives great aid, then those students don’t pay sticker price.</p>
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It means they don’t have a current college student. :)) SOME (usually private) schools give very good financial or merit aid which reduces the cost for those students they most desire.</p>
<p>Any students that receive scholarships also don’t pay the sticker price.</p>
<p>What it usually means is that most of the families with students at a given school do not pay the prices as listed but get financial, merit aid or other discounting. </p>