Do need-based financial aids possibly cover board expenses?
Or in other words, can they be full-ride?
In the formula Need = Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution, does cost of attendence include on-campus living costs?
Yes it does but most colleges will recompute your need based on their own formula. Many schools do not promise to meet full need. Aid may include federal loans including Parent plus loans.
Run the Net price Calculator for each school.
Very few schools offer full rides including room and board.
There is also no such thing as a “free ride” or "free lunch@ because grant aid /free money for room and board is taxable income
If you are asking can you get funding to cover the full cost of attendance with tuition, R&B, fees, books, etc., well yes you can. Most often that FA is going to include loans, so you are not getting a ‘free ride’ because you will have to pay back the loaned amount. If you are international, less likely to get room and board covered.
At schools that meet full need, if they determine that you are full need, room and board will be included. Yes, they CAN be a full ride, but often those schools determine that you and your family can contribute something. Some of the meets needs schools include loans in their FA packages, while others do not. Most require you to complete FAFSA and include any federal grants you are eligible for in your package.
Are you a U.S. citizen?
Generally, the more capable the school is of giving very generous FA, the more competitive it is to get into-- everyone wants a good deal.
no I am an International Student
That changes everything. You will not be eligible for loans, and not many schools meet full need for internationals. Your original question was CAN room and board be included in need based aid. Yes, it can be included. Is it likely to be included for an international? Only at a few schools.
Most schools, except the super endowed one, give no need based aid to internationals at all.
Thank you guys. Could you list out such schools for me? I did the research, just that I want to be sure.
What’s on your researched list?