<p>Mezzo’sMama, that was a new policy this year that is continuing for the incoming class and it is repeated on the Shepherd web page [Shepherd</a> School of Music - Rice University](<a href=“http://music.rice.edu/undergraduate/financial.shtml]Shepherd”>http://music.rice.edu/undergraduate/financial.shtml). Don’t know your friend’s circumstances but previous years the no loan policy income amount was $60,000. Also, although they state they are need blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need, they use the CSS and their own formulas to calculate demonstrated need. As for rnany schools, you need to understand how they do that.</p>