Looking for great financial aid packages? Especially for low-income families

<p>Here is a list of the schools that will meet 100% of financial aid need regardless of income:</p>

<p>CSLF : IF : Colleges That Meet Financial Aid Need</p>

<p>I know that money plays a huge role in today's economy in determining where a student may or may not go to school. I was fortunate enough to receive enough financial aid to matriculate to the college of my dreams; I hope this helps other students/parents who are looking for a way to attend their dream school.</p>

<p>Also, if you are worried about a low income affecting your (or your child's) chances of being accepted to a college or university, you should know that some schools are need-blind. This means that family income has no influence over admission rates. The following schools are both need-blind and are fully committed to meeting 100% or demonstrated need.</p>

<pre><code>* Amherst College
* Beloit College
* Boston College
* Brandeis University
* Brown University
* California Institute of Technology
* Claremont McKenna College
* College of the Holy Cross
* Columbia University
* Cornell University
* Cooper Union
* Dartmouth College
* Davidson College
* Denison University
* Duke University
* Emory University [1]
* Georgetown University
* Grinnell College
* Harvard University
* Haverford College
* Knox College
* Massachusetts Institute of Technology
* Middlebury College
* Northwestern University
* Phillips Academy (9-PG)
* Pomona College
* Princeton University
* Rice University [2]
* Stanford University
* Swarthmore College
* University of Chicago
* University of Miami
* University of Notre Dame
* University of Pennsylvania
* University of Richmond
* University of Rochester
* University of Southern California [3]
* University of Virginia [4]
* Vassar College [5]
* Vanderbilt University
* Wake Forest University
* Wellesley College
* Wesleyan University
* Williams College
* Yale University
</code></pre>

<p>Do all of those schools guarantee to meet full need without loans? Also, need often excludes a student contribution and work study, which is required by everyone - and can be a real pain for low-income students. That’s a great list. I recommend this website as well.</p>

<p>[Project</a> on Student Debt: Financial Aid Pledges](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php]Project”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php)</p>

<p>only a handful will guarantee no-loans and usually within some fairly specific income maxs. they range from Wesleyan (<$40,000) all the way up to Harvard (<$200,000).</p>

<p>Some schools award loans depending on income, and work-study is usually added to their financial aid awards, but many schools have moved to replace all loans with grants</p>

<p>Taylor…that list is not new. Most of the schools on it are highly competitive for admissions as well. The first hurdle is to gain acceptance…otherwise their generous financial aid is of no use to you.</p>

<p>About 1/2 of the schools on your list accept less than 25% of the students who apply. Some accept less than 10% of the students who apply.</p>

<p>I’m not saying these schools are not generous, but I AM saying that no one should consider any of the schools on this list a shoe in for admissions…they simply are not.</p>

<p>About 1/3 of the colleges and universities on the list have completely replaced loans with grants, with no income limits:</p>

<p>Amherst College
Bowdoin College
Claremont McKenna College
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Harvard University
Haverford College
Pomona College
Princeton University
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
University of Pennsylvania
Vanderbilt University
Williams College
Yale University</p>

<p>Schools with income limits on loans include:</p>

<p>Brown
Carleton
Chicago
Cornell
Emory
Wellesley
Wesleyan
WUSTL</p>

<p>Just a note intended for newbie seniors searching for fits: When someone on one of these threads says a school “meets 100% of need” that means need as calculated BY THE SCHOOL and based on your parent’s income tax returns PLUS assets (although some schools, such as Harvard, no longer count home equity.)</p>

<p>Last year I saw a lot of posters who mistook the “meets 100% of need” to mean a “full ride.” It is important to know early on what your family’s Expected Family Contribution will be. Some kids are floored to find out their family’s “EFC” is $20,000, $30,000 or more when they themselves think their families “cannot afford” one of these private schools. So, while it’s great information, caveat emptor : )
Cheers,
K</p>