<p>I think many need aware schools may practice need blind until they run out of money, then become need aware. But if a candidate is borderline as a candidate, not asking for aid can help with admission! </p>
<p>There are definitely more need aware than need blind schools (larger universities and state universities tend to be need blind, liberal arts collegees tend to be need aware as happymomof1 said). </p>
<p>And Romanigypsy, it is not on the FAFSA that the decision is made. It is also on the Common App that there is a check box that says whether or not you are applying for aid. That is submitted well before FAFSA, and that is something the need aware schools will look at. Why do they care if you can pay? If you can’t you might not want to go there and yield matters to them in rankings. They also might not want students to accumulate huge amounts of debt in order to attend, or, I suppose, to withdraw if it becomes too expensive. (Of course they care if you can pay! It is still a business even if it is a nonprofit.)</p>
<p>[Colleges</a> Where Need for Aid Can Hurt Admission Odds - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/03/23/colleges-where-need-for-aid-can-hurt-admission-odds]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/03/23/colleges-where-need-for-aid-can-hurt-admission-odds)</p>