Will Private College Offer Better Aid Than Out-of-State Public University?

The Dean advises a family that’s wondering where the best aid will be. https://insights.collegeconfidential.com/who-gives-most-financial-aid

I think that this is going to depend upon a lot of things, and in general will vary on a university-by-university basis. I haven’t seen much of a theme.

The bottom line in the referenced article sounds exactly right to me: “Play around with the Net Price Calculators … at the schools your son is currently considering”.

Of course there is also the point that a university with a low base price has some advantages over a school that has a high base price but high aid. For one thing merit scholarships often come with a “you must maintain a high GPA” caveat. Also, if your education goes out past 4 years, financial aid may end. If you are at a school with a low base price (such as an in-state public university) this will be less of a hit. The referenced article refers to a student who is in-state for Illinois, where there are some great in-state public options.

But perhaps not great in-state financial aid.