Financial Aid

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bard College
21

<p>We just heard from the financial aid office at Bard. While we are fortunate in that we can afford to send our children anywhere (with a combination of family income, 10 years of savings and loans), the choice of a college that costs 54000 per year seems irresponsible when a similar (if not quite as prestigious) one like Earlham or Oberlin costs 30000-40000 per year because of “merit” aid.</p>

<p>He’s plans on visiting all three of those schools this month, but suddenly Bard (which was his first choice) seems like a less attractive option.</p>

22

<p>I got my financial package today. I got the Bard Scholarship for $25,000 and a bunch of loans and work study. This makes things really tough. It’s down to Bard, NYU, and USC. I am racking my brain trying to make a decision.</p>

23

<p>My son got his letter today 15,000 in scholarships and some more in loans…It’s a beginning, but the price tag they give for everything is 52 thousand (!). Somehow I thought it was going to be more like 48. That’s still means something like 37 K plus some loans… phew!!! Suny Binghamton is still looking attractive, so we will look. And we are still waiting for the package from one other school.</p>

24

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<p>Yes, basically. The FAFSA determines your need (which is whatever is over and above your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC). I’m sure Bard doesn’t satisfy 100%, so you’ll get a piece of that for need-based, if you prove you have need.</p>

<p>So your costs would be the cost to attend Bard, minus your need-based aid. This amount could be larger than what you are expected to pay based on your EFC, but all colleges calculate that differently.</p>

<p>Also, your need-based aid is a combo of grants, loans, and work-study.</p>

25

<p>@nastynate- that’s a really nice scholarship! mind me asking what exactly it was for?</p>

26

<p>My Bard package came the other day - 27,000$ in Bard Scholarship, with about 6000$ more in loans and work study. Which is really very good, better than I was afraid of, but my parents can pay at most around 15,000$… so I still need to make some tough decisions on loans and whatnot.</p>

27

<p>@zefranzter-It was just a “bard” scholarship. I really don’t know why in particular I was given so much because on their site it said they range from 8K-24K, yet I was given 25K? I applied EA so maybe my interest showed? lol. Otherwise I really couldn’t give you a reason my SAT’s are good for Bard, but they don’t really care about that anyway.</p>