<p>It really isn’t all that hard to figure out the whole tuition discounting/merit aid thing.</p>
<p>Just use the Kiplinger data base cited above or the more recent database in the NY Times. You can quickly identify the schools that play the merit aid game and those that don’t. Looking for a LAC in Ohio with merit aid? Steer your kid to Denison and Oberlin. Kenyon – not gonna happen.</p>
<p>Then look at your kid’s stats. Merit aid goes to kids that will improve the college’s stats. If your kid is above average or higher, you can expect some money. If you kid is very above average (say above the 75th percentile on that school’s SAT/ACT range) you will get a bigger award.</p>
<p>Having done this with two kids in the past couple of years, the results were pretty predictable. They got money where we figured they would, and didn’t where we figured they wouldn’t.</p>
<p>If you are talking about need based aid, then that’s a separate analysis you have to do.</p>
<p>But since your every kid is going to be above average at some school, you don’t have to pay sticker price. Unless you and your kid focus primarily on reach/dream schools. The reach school for admissions is not the place where you are going to find merit money.</p>