<p>Discovered this useful link which appears to have data that originates from the Petersen Guide. What is interesting is how nearly all who applied for aid were judged to have need. Also of note is that 90 non-need based awards were given.</p>
<p>Financial Aid
Of all full-time matriculated undergraduates who enrolled in 2005,: 1,688 applied for aid, 1,506 were judged to have need, 1,487 had their need fully met. 886 Federal Work-Study jobs (averaging $1500)
In 2005,: 90 non-need-based awards were made
Average percent of need met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $21,254
Average need-based loan: $4198
Average need-based gift aid: $18,110
Average non-need-based aid: $15,517
Average indebtedness upon graduation: $19,390
Financial aid deadline: 2/1 </p>
<p>My daughter recently applied and was accepted to Holy Cross, which was a dream for her. We were so excited, and believed the statement on their Financial Aid website that “nobody would be denied an education at Holy Cross because of financial need.”</p>
<p>But you need to pay MORE attention to the statement that (they will) “…meet 100% of their need, as calculated according to nationally recognized financial aid criteria.” The key here is is the last phrase: if the gonculator says that Daddy makes too much, it doesn’t matter if you have six kids in college and have maxed out financial aid, the office goes by what comes out of the gonculator. I tried three times to discuss the results with a human financial aid counselor to plea on behalf of my daughter with the hopes that the “nobody will be denied” statement was true, and each time was told in a very nice, polite way, “it is what it is.”</p>
<p>Good news is, she was attracted by another very good Catholic school, accepted, given a great packaged, and she is excited to go. To quote St Ignatius on the day of his Feast, “Teach us to give and not to count the cost.”</p>
<p>Yup, Holy Cross financial aid is absolutely terrible, as in, “Non-Existent.” The statement that transfers will not receive financial aid implies that once a student has been enrolled for a year, is fully matriculated, and is no longer a transfer, this student will be eligible for need-based financial in a subsequent year. This is categorically false, transfer students will never receive school-funded need-based financial aid. We are now seriously regretting our decision to have our daughter transfer to Holy Cross.</p>