Colleges Aren’t Altruistic—They’re Strategic
Colleges offer aid to attract the right students. The ones that are well-run and well-funded often use institutional aid (money from the school itself) to bring in students who will improve their rankings, diversity, or programs. If your student fits what a school is looking for, they may offer significant merit or need-based aid—even if you think you won’t qualify.

What Makes a College Generous With Aid?
Here are a few clues that a school might offer more generous packages:

• High endowment per student – Schools with large endowments often have more resources to distribute.

• Strong graduation and retention rates – These tend to correlate with better student support and financial aid.

• A history of meeting financial need – Some colleges publicly commit to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need.

• Net price calculator results – While imperfect, running these tools can give insight into typical aid offers.

What to Avoid: The Aid Mirage
Some colleges boast about high “average” aid packages—but if most of that is loans, not grants, you’re still paying the bill. Others may front-load aid, giving strong offers in year one but cutting back in future years. Always ask about multi-year aid policies.

Use the Right Strategy Before You Apply
At Diversified College Planning, we help families identify generous colleges early in the process—before you fall in love with a school that won’t help with the bill. Our process matches students with schools likely to give them the most free aid, saving families tens of thousands of dollars.

Contact Us Today:
Want help identifying colleges that offer the most free money?

📞 Call us at 770-662-8510
📅 Schedule a free consultation: Book with Jarad
Or visit our Contact Page: https://diversifiedcollegeplanning.com/contact-us/