<p><a href="http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/CutCollegeCosts/TheBestValuesInPrivateColleges.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/CutCollegeCosts/TheBestValuesInPrivateColleges.aspx</a>
Interesting quotes from an RA and flattering stuff.</p>
<p>One of my son's good friends is the student profiled in the article and two more of his friends are in the photo in the science center.</p>
<p>Kiplingers suggests that Swarthmore gives very high aid to students without high financial need, but I couldn't find anything on the school's website to confirm that merit aid is available outside the few talent-based scholarships. Can anyone explain whether there's direct merit aid, or whether Swarthmore is just generous when it comes to calculating EFC? Or neither? My S is a possible applicant for next year, and it would be nice to know. Thanks!</p>
<p>For all intents and purposes, Swarthmore does not offer merit aid.</p>
<p>The only pure merit aid program at Swarthmore the McCabe Achievement Award endowed back in ancient history that provides a full-ride deal for a handful of local students (from the Delmarva Peninsula and the immediate Swarthmore area in Pennsylvania. This full-ride deal is regardless of demonstrated need, but in practice most of these students would receive some need based aid anyway.</p>
<p>There are two national "quasi-merit" programs -- the Philip Evans Scholarship and the national McCabe Scholars. These are endowed programs for selected Swarthmore students. Both programs provide only need-based aid, but convert all loans and work study to direct aid discounts. Other benefits include funding for a summer research program abroad, funding for a laptop computer, and other perks. You don't apply for these; the selection is made from the pool of accepted students.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/x3387.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.swarthmore.edu/x3387.xml</a></p>
<p>These two programs are used to improve the yield of students Swarthmore really wants. It has been my observation that they are often awarded to students who contribute in a particularly strong way to diversity or social justice on campus, often through some specific extracurricular interest that may not be immediately apparent just looking at the list.</p>
<p>There is (or has been) also an unofficial ad hoc program called Swarthmore Scholars. This was implemented by Robin Mamlet before she left for Stanford. It's basically a preferential packaging (i.e. more attractive need-based aid) to improve yield for highly desireable minority applicants. This is the kind of program that has been formalized in the QuestBridge match program.</p>
<p>To answer you other question. Swarthmore will be among the most generous schools for need-based aid. They meet 100% of demonstated need. However, they are not going to be competitive with big merit aid schools for low-need students. Their aid is focused on need-based students, although that includes a substantial number of middle classs students. Half of the school receives need-based aid. Half of those have family incomes above $80,000 per year.</p>