<p>Duke is one of the few schools that are need-blind in admission and meet full demonstrated need of its applicants. So, you will receive the same aid package from them whether or not you apply ED vs regular decision. You should start by running your financial numbers through Duke’s customized net price calculator:
<a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;
<p>EFC is primarily income driven, so if your family really has “almost no income”, even with reasonable assets, you still might be ok. You need to run the numbers through the calculator to see for yourself.</p>
<p>A Duke financial aid package, for those who qualify, will start with an expected student contribution from income (also called “summer earnings” contribution) of $2100 for entering freshman. So regardless of whether or not your family has a 0 EFC, you will have that expected contribution. In your financial aid package you can expect $2000 in work study and $5000 in Stafford loan (you may also be eligible for a Pell grant up to $5500 if your income is below about $30,000). If your family income is less than $40,000,the Stafford loan will be replaced by Duke grants - then there’s a sliding scale up to $100,000, see their website: ([Duke</a> Financial Aid: Building Your Award](<a href=“http://www.finaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/prospectives/howitworks/awarding.html]Duke”>http://www.finaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/prospectives/howitworks/awarding.html)). After packaging “self help” aid (work study and Stafford loans), Duke will meet your remaining need with Duke University Scholarship Grants.</p>
<p>With all of that being said, I would still suggest that anyone with considerable financial concerns is better off applying regular decision. Even though Duke’s financial aid is generous, there are often differences in aid packages due to the way some schools evaluate income and assets (for instance some schools cap home equity, while others do not). If you apply regular decision you have the opportunity to compare financial aid offers. Some schools like Dartmouth are very open about the fact that they will come right out and match other school’s offers (for Ivies and a few others determined each year - last year they matched Stanford, MIT, UChicago and Duke).</p>