Although I’ve been playing around with NPCs for a while, I only just realized by accident that a few of them (Oberlin, for instance) offer merit aid estimates as well as financial aid prospects.
Does anyone have a list of which NPCs include merit in their calculations – and also how accurate those merit predictions have been? Obviously it can’t be perfect since the calculator is only looking at scores rather than the whole kid but would be good to hear how it’s worked out in reality.
If the merit is automatic-for-stats, and the NPC asks for the stats used, then it should be accurate as far as that goes. But if the merit amount is based at least in part by subjectively graded factors, then it the actual merit offer may vary from what the NPC says.
@ucbalumnus I’m sure merit at schools like Oberlin and Lewis & Clark (two that I’ve found offer a merit estimate along with financial aid estimate) is very subjective so there’s no way it will be exact but curious what people’s experiences have been. I don’t quite understand why some schools even offer this merit estimate when it’s so likely to vary depending on the whole application.
Many of the NPC try to show not only what the school will cost but how you can cover those costs. The print out will list the tuition, fees, room and board, and then list the merit aid, grants, and loans. They are all just estimates, and of course are better if the information entered is correct.
Both of the NPC for my kids’ school were exact because both school base merit off of gpa and scores. The NPC also included the loans they would be eligible for and one included the parent plus loans to make up the difference.
It is quite a shock to put in all the information and see “Net Price” $58,000" The schools are softening the blow by showing that merit aid is available to bring that cost down. Honestly, we would have stopped looking at the school DD2 attends if the NPC had just read “$52,000 less $5500 in loans.” It is good marketing to show what is available.
Be careful to see if the merit is assured or just “maybe”
Rochester allows you to enter the student’s profile and provides possible merit numbers. Not guaranteed.
My D applied to Lewis and Clark and if I recall, the merit estimate was accurate or close to it. For the LACs she applied to, the NPC was approximately accurate for the merit offers she initially received. She ended up with a better offer at one or two of the schools, but it was with the addition of a competitive scholarship.