Just curious
Barnard offers need based aid and will pay 100% need, as they define need. There is no difference in aid between ED or RD – it’s all going to depend on the students financial information.
The disadvantage of ED is that you do not have the opportunity to compare the Barnard aid package with other schools, and you need to make a commitment before you have a final aid offer in hand. You will have a tentative offer, but it will be subject to change when you submit FAFSA and previous years’ tax returns. For example, if one parent gets an unanticipated year-end bonus, it can mean a large chunk of money subtracted from the aid offer.
My D received a fantastic financial aid package from Barnard, the best of any university she applied to. We have very high financial need, and they gave her a grant that covered almost everything. She had a small federal loan and work-study but that was it. The even increased her grant to include Barnard’s health insurance. We coulld not be happier.