<p>To the OP, the amount of debt is not a consideration for need based awards except in the situation where there is a lien on an asset such as property or a home which afffects its market value which is net of such a lien. A family owing money up the whazzoo on credit card bills and even student loans do not get a quareter for such debt. Even medical debt is considered on a very limited basis and generally is not–it’s what you have PAID that may be taken into some consideration. </p>
<p>Your family income of $35K will figure heavily in terms of need based aid, and unless your family has a lot of assets, those schools that guarantee to meet need or tend to meet a large portion of it for its accepted students will likely have a good financial aid package for you. But most schools do NOT meet need. They simply gap. Also need is not considered in those scholarships that are purely merit based. </p>
<p>To what schools are you applying?</p>