<p>“How much is based on financial need and how much is based on the school’s desire to enroll my daughter?” </p>
<p>That will vary from school to school. Some schools have talent and merit money that is in no way linked to financial need. Some schools have talent and merit money that is linked to financial need. Some schools have both. </p>
<p>For example, where I teach we do not have departmental scholarship money for incoming students. However, the university does, and incoming students can apply for those merit grants for incoming freshmen. The university also has some merit grant money that is offered to some incoming students without additional application. I do not believe that these freshman scholarship programs are based upon financial need. However, the university has another incoming student scholarship program to which students may apply where financial need is a part of the equation.</p>
<p>In our department we have small scholarships for which continuing students in the program may apply. Most of these are service, merit, and talent based ONLY, but there is a specific scholarship where a student must ALSO demonstrate financial need as defined by the FAFSA. </p>
<p>I offer all of he above as an example of the intricacies of scholarship grant money at universities. Each school will be different, and may have many different types of programs within the university.</p>