Research Colleges & Universities Financial Aid BEFORE Applying

It is extremely important for families to know the differences between public and private universities when it comes to merit and need-based financial aid.

Private Universities
• More expensive, but better chance at merit scholarships
• Percentage of Need-Met is usually over 80%

Public Universities
• Less expensive, but usually only need-based aid with few exceptions
• Percentage of Need-Met is usually around 50-60%

Research these differences by using College Board’s “Big Future” link (located on this website), to check a school’s average first year financial aid package to see how much is merit, and how much is need-based.

Also, use a school’s Net Price Calculator to see the actual amount you will be paying out-of-pocket. This will help you and your student to create a viable list of colleges that are affordable and result in less debt.