<p>Billscho, it’s really hard to quite get the breakdowns. There are schools that tend to meet most students financial aid according to their info, but then your realize that it is heavily a commuter school, and the instate tuition is low. A lot of PELL kids, the Direct loans covers a lot of the kids. Anyone with more need than that, out of luck. Schools can look better in the numbers by meeting full need of those with with less need, and than just gapping the heck out of the high need kids. </p>
<p>Right now, there are no public universities other than UNC CH and UVA that will meet full need even as they define it for OOSers. UMich, yes, meets full need of instater, again as the school defines need. </p>
<p>It’s important to know how that need is defined too. If you are at a school that includes 100% of primary home equity in the assets as opposed to none or capped numbers, the aid can differ. When using their own formulas, the FAFSA percentages and rules do not necessarily hold I know schools that use 30% of students assets towards EFC, that include 401K balances, and who carry forward certain asset balances over the four year period. </p>
<p>I wish schools had to report what percent of need they meet based on FAFSA EFC, so we can see a little bit more of the apple to apples comparisions. Still not going to catch a lot of situations, but a lot better than what we have now. </p>