The 10 best colleges for financial aid

"When it comes to offering aid, private schools typically have more money to spend, he added. In fact, ‘these schools become even more affordable than your home state university.’

The Princeton Review ranked colleges by how much financial aid is awarded and how satisfied students are with their packages. The report is based on data collected from fall 2017 through summer 2018.

Here are the top 10:" …

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/08/the-10-best-colleges-for-financial-aid.html

Not sure how Bowdoin College is ranked number (#1) one when the average cost is so much higher than most of the other schools on this list. Also, curious that Colgate made the top 10–#10–since it only awards aid to 36% & many colleges & universities award grant aid to a much higher percentage of students.

This list does not include Harvard, MIT, Wellesley, Amherst & Swarthmore.

I’m wondering if there is something similar to this list, but for the average student applying to average schools.

Thanks

Rankings apparently are based on one question:

Great Financial Aid
Financial Aid Not So Great

Both lists are based on students’ answers to the survey question, “If you receive financial aid, how satisfied are you with your financial aid package?”

Needless to say the rankings are very different for the current data.

The Chronicle of Higher Education published a list last fall of best financial aid for the lowest-income students, although the list noted amounts awarded to families with incomes up to about 100,000, I believe. I was given the list and am not a subscriber to access it, but it was very interesting. Duke was #1.

@twokidsandadog You can find information about average aid for any college at College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics

However, averages don’t tell you much. You cannot rely on that in any way. Instead, try the college’s Net Price Calculator for a price from that college for your unique financial situation. It’s just an estimate, but far more useful than an “average” that would have no relevance whatsoever to you.

(NB, original thread is two years old.)