Hi,
Could applying to a school for early decision negatively affect the chances of receiving merit aid,
since the school knows that once they admit the student, he/she has to come?
(so there is less incentive for the school to give merit aid to those who are doing early decision).
Could it? Yes. Does it? That’s another question.
Many (most?) people in this forum feel that a college won’t lowball the offer just because the student applied ED. The biggest problem is not being able to compare FA offers from peer schools with the chance to potentially get more FA.
The best merit aid at many colleges involves a competitive process that does not play out until long after ED commitment deadlines.