<p>I don’t know of any other colleges as generous as Harvard on FA. Yale is also very generous, but they work from EFC, not a straight percentage of income as Harvard does, and the first $3,000 of their aid award is self-help (work-study). They also expect freshmen to contribute $1,500 from summer earnings the summer before starting college. At the end of the day most privates are probably going to come up with FA packages that leave you in a pretty similar position to Michigan. There might be some difference in what part of the package is loans, but keep in mind that the no-loan policy at a handful of the wealthiest privates does NOT mean the award won’t include work-study. You really just need to apply and see what the FA package looks like, though. And keep in mind that the much lower COA at Michigan means you’re starting out there with the equivalent of a $30,000 grant relative to the COA at a private school. My guess is when all is said and done, what you’re expected to pay is going to be pretty close at Michigan and at the privates. But for EE, Michigan has it all over Harvard.</p>