<p>Title says it all. Not including merit aid, which school gives out the best financial aid packages?</p>
<p>It’s going to depend on individual circumstances, as each college considers different factors in different ways. Your best bet is to run the NPCs at the FA web page for each college.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on personal circumstances. My d1 choose Wellesley, and the aid is fantastic. Others have reported that they were disappointed with their aid. We found it very close to the NPC. Smith gave less, but did give her a full scholarship offer later. Scripps (if you choose to look at them, too) also gave less, but gave her a full ride scholarship. My takeaway was that schools that offer merit trend to give less need based aid, but YMMV.</p>
<p>OP, you may want to run the NPC for these schools. For example, see <a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator. Also, Radcliffe College became Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and no longer accepts undergraduate students. See <a href=“Seven Sisters (colleges) - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sisters_(colleges)</a></p>
<p>And no reason to exclude merit if it is automatic. Mt. Holyoke’s NPC includes questions about gpa and test scores and uses that to calculate an estimated award.</p>
<p>I’ve heard Mount Holyoke has the worst.</p>
<p>I’ve been comparing FA at the women’s colleges all fall. Luckily the college board saves your numbers so when I go back and run it again to see if something has changed, lol, it only takes a minute! I eliminated Wellesley after participating in Discover Wellesley. With a family income thats neither rich nor poor (and entering my 3.8 UWGPA, 33 ACT for MHC) I’ve compared Smith, Scripps, MHC, and BMC. For me, Scripps is the best FA and the only one that I would say genuinely meets my need with a loan and work study. Smith and BMC are about tied with loans, work study, and what’s left over, about 35% higher than Scripps. I’d have to borrow more to attend these. MHC is the highest, about double the Scripps estimate and with a higher family contribution. I was surprised there are such differences. I had assumed the ‘meet full need’ schools would all be about the same. However, none of the estimates was prohibitive and I will choose my college based on other factors and make the $ work. </p>
<p>I ran the NPCs for all of them and yes, it seems Mt Holyoke has the worst… 9k more than Bryn Mawr, 5k more than Wellesley or Barnard and a bit more than Smith. Probably since it offers merit aid they can’t give as much need-based.</p>
<p>@LyricalLacuna I hadn’t actually been considering Scripps (a bit too close to home for my tastes) but I think I’ll look into it now. Thanks!</p>
<p>These colleges pledge to ‘meet full need’ but they define the need. Wellesley gave us very good aid only beat by no loan package.</p>
<p>@adalayde, I didn’t expect to like Scripps as much as I did. The classes I took were outstanding, the campus is too gorgeous to describe and the advantages of being in the Claremont Consortium are real! If you’re close enough to visit, I highly recommend it. I flew a long way for a 2 night program at Scripps and although it was a lot of travel I don’t regret it at all! I am definitely applying. </p>
<p>@LyricalLacuna I’ve actually visited! It was raining when I went, though, so I don’t think I got the full experience. It was really beautiful. Mainly I’ve been looking to get away from SoCal, so I’d never really considered it. But if their aid is competitive then I’ll definitely apply!</p>
<p>Take a look at Vassar (still a sister, even though co-ed) <a href=“News - Info - Vassar College”>News - Info - Vassar College;
<p>^ Vassar gave me by far my best FA package back in the 80s. It is a no-loan school now, at least for certain family incomes. So is Wellesley, <a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php</a></p>
<p>^ that link is a little old, can’t seem to find one for this year. This is list is almost the same but may be as old: <a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid;
<p>@OHMomof2, do you know what that income is, by any chance?9(For Wellesley) Ballpark?</p>
<p>The 7 sisters were Radcliffe, Vassar, Wellesley, Barnard, Smith, Mt Holyoke, , Bryn Mawr. Radcliffe is now part of Harvard, and I would say most people would rate Harvard as the school that gives the best Financial Aid. They are also need blind in admissions. Vassar, Wellesley and Barnard guarantee to meet full need, but they define that need, as does Harvard, but their definitions are not usually as generous as Harvard’s. They are also need blind in admissions. Smith, MtHoyoke and BrynMawr, are not need blind in admissions, but also meet full need. I believe most, if not all, of these schools do include loans in their aid packages whereas Harvard does not.</p>
<p>But as others have said, it doesn’t really matter which one is the most generous overall or on average. It’s which one is the most generous to YOU. I have a friend who got zip from Harvard due to his family business, but most of the other colleges were more generous in viewing his situation. Also with generous merit money, a student could do better at schools that have large such awards over those that have few or none.</p>
<p>@helimom74 - according to the link I provided, as of 2009 it was $60k or less and a reduction in loans for $60-100K. As they calculate it and depending on assets and such, I’m sure.</p>
<p>What was her SAT score?@Sakacar3</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse I am interested in the FA aid packages at the Seven Sisters as well. Particularly for those coming from low income families. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Someone else’s situation is not going to be your situation. I would recommend running the net price calculator to get an idea of the net price of these schools based on your situation.</p>