@alliblues
I would be very curious to know what the average price per student is. We can only guess by looking at published numbers.
Tuition, room & board comes to about $64,000 a year. (Not including other mandatory fees and such)
According to College Board, at CWRU:
The average need-based aid grant is $36,474, which means a net price of $27,758.
The average non-need based grant is $23,573, which means a net price of $40,659.
And some students are getting $0, which means net price of $64,000.
In the absence of a published average price per student, let’s assume the average is the middle number, roughly $40,000 a year.
So, yes, if many students are paying $27,000-$40,000 a year, while others are paying $40,000-$64,000, those paying more are absolutely subsidizing those paying less.
The school needs a certain amount of income, which is understandable and logical. They can choose to divide that needed income evenly between all students, charging all the same tuition, or charge a variety of prices, depending on the student. If one student is paying less, there needs to be another paying more to cancel that loss out, so that the needed income still comes in.
This is not at all a complaint about this school. Many schools are the same with this. It’s just a situation that one can be on the positive or negative side of. If it works out in your favor, awesome! If it doesn’t, then it’s a tough choice to make for students and their families.