<p>Ok, say you have an EFC that exceeds the cost of tuition per year. Can you still get full tuition based on your grades?</p>
<p>If you are appealing enough to the university, yes. But don't plan on it out of the Ivies or near-Ivies.</p>
<p>Scotta, what do you mean "if you are appealing enough to the university"?</p>
<p>If you apply to a school that gives merit money and you are "attractive" to the school in terms of grades, states, athletic prowess, (as some schools being able to pay the full ticket price) then you could be offered merit money.</p>
<p>And the Ivy League schools and several other top-ranked institutions give NO merit aid (although if you have some need they may differentially package that need based aid, and at least theoretically find more need for an especially attractive candidate).</p>
<p>Why don't they give merit money? Are they that greedy?</p>
<p>Well, there are probably SO many qualified applicants that they'd have to give EVERYONE merit aid (since every Ivy acceptee is good at something). So they just focus on offering need-based aid to those who excel, yet lack the financial means to attend anywhere they like.</p>