<p>You need to look for colleges that both
1° cover 100% need
and
2° have high 4-year graduation rates.</p>
<p>You CANNOT restrict yourself by State, you need to look at those two factors and see where you can get in. If your parents don’t have much money, your school should help you get a fee waiver (for applications and to take the SAT/ACT). In addition, of course, you should apply to several in-State universities (and, if you have the stats, apply for their Honors Program.) </p>
<p>If the college pledges to pay 100% need, it means you’ll be able to go. Otherwise they may not give you enough money. These schools also tend to have good graduation rates, meaning that you graduate in 4 years, not 5 or 6.
If the college covers 100% need, no matter how much it costs, it’ll offer you the money that you need to go - as long as you’re a desirable candidate. That means you look at the SAT or ACT score range, usually they show you the range from 25 to 75% and you should be close to the close of the 75%. If there is an average, you should be above the average.</p>
<p>Some schools are need-blind, meaning that they don’t know you need money when you apply. They look at your credentials and decided if they want you. And if they decide you should be part of their school, they admit you, then the financial aid office is supposed to make it work so that you can come.
All the schools on this list (below) are need blind, but they’re also very selective and prestigious, so you should ask them for brochures (the brochures are free) and you can also email them with questions.
[Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Some schools even have a no-loans policy, so that you graduate with no debt.
[The</a> Debt-Free College Degree - Businessweek](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)
[FinAid</a> | Answering Your Questions | No Loans for Low Income Students](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>Looking at private colleges is a good idea since many of them actually have more money for aid than public schools, but make sure to pick colleges that cover 100% need.
Once you’ve identified a few colleges, email them to ask them if they cover 100% need and what the average grant or scholarship is.</p>