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Do private college/universities offer full-tuition GRANTS or close to full-tuition based on your academic achievement AND financial need? Don't they generally look at your need first?

Let's say you apply to a university and you fall in their 1st tier, above the average range - how likely is it to receive this type of grants?

By Shennie (Shennie) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 04:28 pm: Edit

It really is specific to each school. Very top schools do not offer merit aid at all. Other schools offer merit aid based on how much they want you. Often, financial aid, both need based and merit can be negotiated after you are accepted. It is unlikely that a school will give you a full tuition grant unless they are dying to have you. There are some schools that have competitive scholarships awarded to a certain number of students that cover all or part of tuition. You would have to look at each school to see what is available.

By Wembleyfraggle7 (Wembleyfraggle7) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 05:48 pm: Edit

Most of the schools I've looked at (upper level private schools) will guarantee to meet 100% of your financial need, but only a few offer merit scholarships. I know that the Ivy League did away with merit based scholarships in 1954. Try visiting www.finaid.org and using the "ask the aid advisor" and they will get back to you pretty quick.