Summary: There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes as colleges decide who to admit each year. One factor that might play a role is your family’s financial situation. This article breaks down the difference between need-blind and need-sensitive admissions and highlights what you should know about each approach.
You’ve probably been told how important your grades, test scores, volunteer work, and essays are when it comes to getting into college. But here’s something you might not have considered—your family’s financial situation could also play a role in the admissions process.
What Does Need-Blind Mean?
When it comes to your family's financial status, remember that you can't change it. So, there's no need to worry. Let's shift our focus to what the admissions office evaluates during the application process.
A college is labeled need-blind if it doesn't assess a family's finances when admitting a student. This translates to not reviewing your FAFSA or requesting financial details during the decision-making phase. Conversely, if a college is need-sensitive or need-aware, they do consider your financial situation in admission decisions.
Benefits of Attending a Need-Blind School
Here’s the potential good news about need-blind schools: Need-blind schools often provide significant financial aid to students with “demonstrated financial need,” as determined by the FAFSA and other financial aid applications. (Some of them even meet 100% of “demonstrated financial need,” which can be a significant bonus if finances are a big part of your college enrollment decision.)
Just remember this: even if a school meets 100% of your “demonstrated financial need,” this doesn’t mean you get to attend for free. It just means that the school has put together a financial aid package that covers 100% of your need. This package could include gift aid (like grants and scholarships), as well as work-study and student loans that you will have to pay back.
There are about 100 colleges that claim to have a need-blind admissions policy. About a third offer need-blind admissions to international students and four-fifths to transfer students.
Check your financial aid award carefully if you’re accepted. About a third of these schools will leave students with unmet need: You might get admitted, but you won’t have the financial aid you need to enroll. (This is called an “admit-deny” situation.)
Need-Sensitive Schools
Even if a college is need-blind, that policy can change to need-sensitive when it comes to the wait list. This means that most schools will consider financial status when deciding to admit students on the wait list. (Only five colleges say that they are need-blind for wait-listed students: Amherst, Babson, Bard, Baylor, and Wellesley.)
The potential good news about need-sensitive schools: They might be actively seeking a broad demographic mix of students. They sometimes have specific programs to help low-income students get into school, pay for school, and be successful while in school.
Recommendations
- Almost all families underestimate their eligibility for need-based aid. So, unless your family can flat-out write a check for your tuition (and all the other college expenses!), you should apply for admission and financial aid.
- Find out if the schools you are applying to have need-blind or other need-based admissions policies. Keep these policies in mind as you get those acceptance letters.
- Before you accept admission to a school, make sure it is a good financial fit, not just a good academic fit.