Questions on "Net Price Calculators"

<p>Can anyone explain where this new requirement came from and what "guidelines", if any, exist as to what each school is supposed to put on its website?</p>

<p>What I am seeing is widely different results at different schools...is merit aid differentiated from need-based aid? Do the schools need to outline what there "policy" is -- for example, "100% need-based" ala Princeton, Georgetown, or mostly merit based ala Monmouth Univ. in NJ? </p>

<p>Thanks!!!</p>

<p>I guess they have looked fairly straightforward to me. The only time I saw “merit” money included was from a couple publics I ran that had automatic tuition discounts for specific GPAs and test scores…and those particular calculators asked for GPA and test scores as part of the process. All the rest basically spit out a number I could have figured out more or less without the “calculator” and all had disclaimers regarding what was not included that potentially could be included…lots of use of words like “might”, “potential” etc. and I assume this referenced “merit money.” But overall no one spit out a number lower than my EFC!</p>