Financial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay.
Need-based aid includes grants (free money), subsidized loans (government pays interest while in school), and work-study. The amount is determined by your FAFSA/SAI and each school's cost of attendance. The most generous schools meet 100% of demonstrated need.
Myth: "Private schools are always more expensive than public ones." Reality: After need-based aid, many elite privates cost less than your state flagship.
Why it matters
Need-based aid can make an expensive private school cheaper than a state university. Schools like Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford offer full rides to families making under $100K. Do not rule out expensive schools — their need-based aid can be extraordinary.
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