<p>There are universities (like Harvard, Yale, etc.) that cover the full cost of attendance (minus a student work requirement) for students from families earning less than 65,000 per year. Does anyone here know of less competitive colleges/universities that offer this? I know that all colleges offering this will be competitive, but there has to be somewhere that has better than a 5% acceptance rate, right?</p>
<p>Check out the QuestBridge program (see the subforum under this one).</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean by “low income”. For example, Michigan and Michigan State provides essentially full ride for those making poverty level income (Michigan has a higher income threshold) or lower, but you have to be instate. Obviously, there’s a huge difference between poverty level and 65k, but I don’t consider 65k low income. </p>
<p>What state are you? </p>
<p>Someone else posted that Gettysburg and St. Olaf would be good schools to consider. Still competitive, but not as much so as Yale. </p>
<p>However, the only schools that meet that high level of need based aid at the $65,000 income threshold are THE most competitive of the lot.</p>
<p>However, check the thread above in this forum for automatic full tuition and full ride scholarships. These are merit awards. If you are truly a competitive applicant for a tippy top school. You may find you are eligible for one of these automatic awards.</p>
<p>The schools that give the best aid are known to do so…so guess what…they end up getting a gazillion apps and therefore can’t accept many applicants.</p>
<p>Washington & Lee, Albright College are two that have caught my attention. </p>
<p><a href=“http://diplomaguide.com/articles/10_Colleges_and_Universities_with_0_Tuition.html”>http://diplomaguide.com/articles/10_Colleges_and_Universities_with_0_Tuition.html</a></p>
<p>[Colleges</a> That Claim To Meet Full Financial Need](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2012/02/16/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need][b]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2012/02/16/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need)
[Colleges</a> That Meet Full Need for Low-Income Students Without Loans](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php][b]Colleges”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php)</p>
<p>Please note that the list of “no loan” colleges isn’t entirely up to date, as several schools have changed their “no loan”policies in recent years - so check with the individual college to be sure of current policy.</p>
<p>Also, students who are competitive for full need schools should also qualify for merit aid in the full tuition scholarship thread</p>
<p>Wow! All of you are very helpful! That’s why I love the CC community! </p>
<p>Anyway, I have checked out the links and suggested schools you guys mentioned- very interesting stuff! Some very good points were also brought up, like checking out the automatic full tuition/ full ride thread. I have looked at that prior to now and have made a short list. I’ll probably check it over once more after I actually receive my ACT results (hopefully Monday!).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Be careful about claims to “meet full need”. Run the net price calculator at each school’s web site to get an estimate for your financial situation. “Meet full need” schools can vary significantly in net price due to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Varying definitions of “need”. Most schools that offer their own financial aid use their own methodology which may differ from federal methodology used to determine Pell grants. They also tend to want additional forms like CSS/Profile in addition to FAFSA. Some disappointed students find that the school’s expectation of what their families can contribute is a lot higher than what their families can actually contribute.</li>
<li>Varying student contributions. These may range from $4,000 to $10,000; those at the lower end of the range would need either some work or work-study earnings or a federal direct loan, while those at the higher end of the range would need some work or work-study earnings and a federal direct loan.</li>
</ul>
<p>On the merit side, check these threads:
<a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; (automatic for stats)
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; (competitive)
<a href=“NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation - #833 by BobWallace - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>NMF Scholarships: An Updated Compilation - #833 by BobWallace - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; (if National Merit)</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like the op was looking for “meets full needs”. It sounds like she was looking for completely free tuition/full ride. There’s a big difference. </p>
<p>The description of a school that meets most costs for students with incomes lower than $65,000 really applies to those schools with HUGE endowments that meet full need for all…and are highly competitive for,admissions.</p>
<p>Luckily, there are schools which offer merit awards to high achieving students that can bring their net costs down to the same level. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Of course, “full ride” needs to be considered in context. Even Harvard expects a $4,600 student contribution, which is the minimum net price on need-based aid without outside scholarships (see <a href=“Net Price Calculator”>https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator</a> ). And many of the merit scholarship “full rides” cover tuition, fees, room, and board (and perhaps books), but do not cover incidentals and travel that may be listed on the cost of attendance page.</p>
<p>Yes, I actually was looking for full ride scholarships (or close to that). I don’t mind a work-study arrangement, though. I know that’s expected. </p>
<p>My parents will not contribute funds to my education. Even if they would, we have a ridiculously high EFC & a low income (therefore making it impossible to pay, even if I get an all-but-EFC-scholarship).</p>
<p>I’m sorry for your situation and wish you the best of luck 
</p>
<p>Thanks I just hope I have the stats and a compelling enough story to get the attention of admissions personnel and finanacial aid faculty :/</p>
<p>How does a family have high EFC, but low income? Was that a typing error? </p>
<p>Low income + high assets = high EFC</p>
<p>And if the assets are over-mortgaged, then there’s nothing to be done about it.</p>
<p>However, the OP needs to understand that the schools that meet full need (like Harvard, Yale, etc.) are not going to be the answer, even if she were able to gain admission. The high EFC will make those schools unaffordable. The OP needs to focus instead on the [automatic</a> full tuition/full ride scholarships](<a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums). Those will be her safety schools. Beyond that, she can try for some of the competitive scholarship schools, as well. But the “meet full need”schools are out.</p>
<p>It was not a typing error; dodgersmom hit the nail on the head. I’m in a sticky situation indeed…</p>
<p>I have been looking into the automatic scholarships mentioned, but a lot of them don’t offer my anticipated major (biochemistry). I might just major in chemistry, though, if worse comes to worse and one of those schools turns out to be my only option. I think there are at least a few on the list that offer Biochem though :)</p>