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<p>hmom5 the US will remain the ultimate place to get an education for those that can afford it. And it will continue to give foreigners more aid than any other Country. I'm not challenging you or anything, but what makes you so sure about that?
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<p>Take, as greenboy says, Middlebury for a start. It has shifted from need-blind to need-sensitive on a whim. Have a look: Middlebury's</a> new policy toward International applicants. Other colleges appear to be following suite.</p>
<p>hmom5 may answer later, but let me have my say about financial aid.</p>
<p>US will top its major rivals in UK, Australia and Canada in terms of giving out financial aid in the years to come for sure. Here's why:</p>
<p>UK: Nearly a third of the British economy is based on its educational sector, whose major funding comes from the overseas-paying International students. The govt here strictly regulates the education industry (unlike in the US), part of which involves keeping fees affordable for local residents. As a result, the local fee rate is highly subsidized by the govt. However, in most cases, this rate is way below than the actual expenditure incurred by a university per student. As a result, universities charge twice as much to overseas students for compensation. I can't see how this picture will change. Recently, a few elite universities formed the Russel Group, which is lobbying for higher fees. There's even talk of a British Ivy-league (by uni rectors not tabloids btw) which will double the current overseas fees rate to 20k per annum.</p>
<p>Australia: There are not many universities and most are not as prestigious as many of the top 20 universities in the US. Plus, they seldom give scholarships and even that too is ferociously competitive, merit-based and not 110% (with the air ticket, i.e.). ANU is a prime example.</p>
<p>Canada: It's well-documented that - apart from McGill - you can get easily into any Canadian university paying in full. The concept of financial aid, I am afraid, is yet to gain popularity across the border.</p>