<p>[sound of screeching tires] this is why flyover country should not be ruled out right away. you sound like you may be interested in “merit” aid, as opposed to, aid based on what the schools think you can afford. You’ll find that almost all the midwestern LACs offer merit aid while the NE LACs, with few exceptions only offer need-based aid, and in today’s economy, it is the rare college that will unconditionally commit to a 100% “no-loan” policy for the Class of 2014 (I think Yale and Princeton are the only ones to do so, so far.)</p>