Why does everyone say Financial Aid is bad??

pilebay
Sun, 27 Nov 2005 23:43:19 +0000

Financial Aid Statistics
Full-time freshman enrollment: 1,206
Number who applied for need-based aid: 809
Number who were judged to have need: 566
Number who were offered aid: 566
Number who had full need met: 566
Average percent of need met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $28,547
Average need-based loan: $4,474
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $23,405
Average non-need based aid: $9,205
Average indebtedness at graduation: Not reported

I found this on collegeboard.com and it looks like financial aid packages are really good. Especially the fact that 100% of need is met for those that are judged to have need. And nearly everyone that applies for need based aid is judged to have need. Is collegeboard misrepresenting the data because out of all the schools I am looking at it seems as though University of Chicago has the best aid. What is wrong with this data? I mean this is the difference between my applying and not applying as I come from a very economically disadvantaged situation and need a lot of aid.