<p>
[quote]
Avg. financial aid package :$24,700
Avg. need-based scholarships or grant: $19,058
Avg. self-help aid, such as work study or loan: $4,704
Avg. merit award: $5,433
[/quote]
Notre Dame must have a COA of about $45K per year. The above means that the avg amount that a student who is receiving financial aid gets is about $24K per year ($19K in grants and $5K in loans), and that they are paying the remaining $21K per year themselves. If somebody is not getting any finan aid, then they are paying the whole $45K themselves. The other statistic that you need is what percent of the students are receiving finan aid.</p>
<p>If this seems like a pretty good deal, then you are right. There is a lot of need-based finan aid available for students whose parents are not making too much above $90K or $100K per year (family income).</p>