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<p>Ding, ding, ding! Show D’yerMaker what he’s won, Don Pardo!</p>
<p>I think there is more than a little anecdotal evidence to suggest that the lion’s share of financial aid goes to high-need students. We have proxies for high-need that are a matter of public record, for example, Pell Grant recipients. The data suggests a high degree of consistency between Amherst, Williams and Wesleyan – indeed, all the major SLACs – in terms of the percent of Pell Grant recipients among their student bodies:<br>
[Liberal</a> Arts College Rankings 2011 | Washington Monthly](<a href=“http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2011/liberal_arts_rank.php]Liberal”>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2011/liberal_arts_rank.php)</p>
<p>Clearly, more than 13-14% of their student bodies are on financial aid, suggesting that the balance of their allocations are being spread thinly. The question is how thinly? The vast majority of college-bound families in this country earn too much to qualify for a Pell and not enough where a thousand dollar school-sponsored “grant” would close the deal for them.</p>