SDonCC

You raise some interesting points about the demographics of the students applying to these schools. YOu mentioned only Grinnell among the schools with the highest endowments. Note that Wiliams and Swarthmore who are also in the top five (and higher than Grinnell, although I think Grinnell is higher per capita than WIlliams) awarded about 50% of students with FA.

In Grinnell's case, it is also an institutional mission to encourage diversity. I know all schools are interested in increasing these numbers, but based on my experience with a student at Grinnell, it is one of the school's top values and one that they really put their money where their mouth is.

But, perhaps because Grinnell is a school known for good FA (and it awards merit money), it also attracts more applicants who need money.

sunmachine

Comparing the percentage of students determined to have need at one school with the percentage at another school is not very useful since the basis for determining need can vary widely. My older son was a case in point. He received about $20k in need based grants from Carleton, about $18k from Brown, about $16k from Grinnell, and zero from both Midd and Bowdoin. CC gave him $10k in merit and about $1k in need grants. Whitman gave him about $24k in grants that were an undefined mix of need and merit.

For what it's worth, my younger son applied to CC this year and was rejected after being deferred EA and after we submitted our financial aid forms. Since we now have two attending, our need is greater than when S1 applied, so that may have been a factor in his rejection. On the other hand, his stats are not quite as high as S1's, so it's hard to say. Younger son will be attending Whitman in the fall with about $24k in need and merit grants, so I guess it all worked out. . I will say both my sons liked what they saw of CC, but got the impression the students were very well heeled even when compared to the other LACs they considered.