@CroissantMiser Colleges have zero incentive to give extra $$ to ED kids. Zero. ED is binding, they don’t need to “pay” you to attend.
So to me, unless you are truly willing to be full pay or the NPC shows you an FA package that works for you and so it does seem affordable…then ED is not worth it for most if $$ is a concern.
If it is a school that gives straight merit based on stats then you should be able to have a good idea of what will be offered and the NPC ought to give you a good idea as well. If you want to share the name of the school, folks here can weigh in more specifically.
If the admission advantage is worth the extra cost and you can afford it (but would just prefer not to) then go for it but around here (all of CC, not just this group), almost no one is successful with an ED admit, in getting the offer improved. Bowing out if if the $$'s do not work (and it was clear before application it would not) is disngenious at best.
There are definitely cases where the NPC “promised” something that the actual offer didn’t deliver and to me that’s a good faith exercise and fair reason to pull out but it is a binding contract and mentally for the student, pretty awful to go through if parents get cold financial feet.