Not sure about all families or all colleges but our income last year was $215K and Notre Dame is awarding D about $15K/year. I think this is a little unusual but it does happen.
She’s getting $15k/year in need-based aid? Does she have any siblings currently in college?
Notre Dame awards a small number of merit scholarships
http://financialaid.nd.edu/prospective-students/funding/merit-based-assistance/
@Wje9164be Your DD who is at ND is a twin, is that correct? Is the other twin going to school anywhere?
Yes, she is going to a local community college. Having 2 kids in college certainly did not hurt but her tuition is only about $8K tops so it couldn’t have had a major impact unless the only criteria is whether you have other children in college not the cost
I don’t think the cost is considered…just that there are two in college. That puts the ND twin’s “family contribution” at 60% of what it would be if there had only been one in college.
I believe the only time the 2nd child’s costs aren’t considered is if that student is attending a military academy for free… Maybe if the sibling is attending a school on a full ride athletic scholarship also?? Don’t know.
My kids’ schools only considered that there was another child in college, not how much was paid or whether it was covered by a full scholarship (merit or otherwise). I think the fafsa instructions are to exclude those at service academies, but don’t ask about the cost of the other schools.
Of course, CSS schools CA ask whatever they want to
@twoinanddone, I am curious as to what colleges only consider there is another child in college and not whether that child has merit scholarship.
Many colleges only consider the number of students in college…not the costs.
Really it’s the minority that consider the actual cost of a sibling’s college costs.
All the FAFSA only schools only consider the number in school. One of my kids has almost all her COA covered by scholarships and her sister’s school awards based on FAFSA, so doesn’t know how much I pay or don’t pay.
I remember the question so well because when I was running the NPC at several schools, it asked for the number in school but said to omit any at a service academy, and the second child was thinking about a service academy at that time so I ran everything both ways.
Some of the NPC for CSS schools asked about tuition for the second child, or even for kids at private high schools. I assume those schools care about the amount of tuition paid since they asked.
Are they mostly FAFSA schools?
How about CSS schools? Most DD’s target schools are CSS. Do they care?
YMMV depending on the school. Some Profile schools will consider the actual costs of the sibling college. Others won’t.
CSS schools seem to care about a lot of things, that’s why they ask for more information. I didn’t fill out the CSS, but did do the NPC for a few CSS schools and the questions were more specific about the value of the home, siblings and the amount you pay for them, investments.
I think the schools that are trying to meet need are going to determine as best they can what the need is.