My assumption has always been that if your child applies for early decision you are at a great disadvantage for getting financial aid, since you are signing a binding agreement. On the Clark University Website, it says the following:
“When you apply to Clark, your need-based financial aid forms are due at the same time. This way, we can give you a preliminary financial aid award with your acceptance. If, after working with the Clark Office of Financial Assistance, you are still unable to afford a Clark education, you may ask to be released from the binding agreement. Plus, Clark meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all ED applicants, so you will not be asked to pay for college outside of your means.”
Can this be for real? Every other school says that early decision is binding.
Your assumption is wrong. Need-based awards will not vary because one applies ED. That holds for all colleges.
Every other school has the exact same rules - ED is binding except if the FA is insufficient.
However, the applicant (and parents) need to do due diligence and run the Net Price Calculator to estimate aid. For domestic applicants, unless there are exceptions specified by the college (self employed, rental income are common exceptions. Divorced parents may be an exception depending on the college), the NPC shouldn’t vary from an actual award offer. If the situation is an exception, the FA office may give guidance or provide a pre-read.
On another note, you should change your username. This link tells you how.