Why don't most of the top LACs offer substantial merit scholarships?

[Anonymous]

Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Colby, Haverford, Vassar, Carleton, Barnard, Hamilton, and Colgate are just some of the best known examples of LACs that have essentially no merit aid, outside of maybe 1 or 2 $2000 national merit scholarship awards a year from alumni restricted funds.

These schools have some of the highest endowments per students of any institution, making it easily attainable to finance a merit scholarship opportunity covering minimum 20K a year and up to a full ride. The first five schools above all have over 1 million dollar per student. Given that they tend to lose cross admits to top universities, why not offer merit aid to attract the best and brightest to their schools? Several universities already do this to lure in HYPMS level candidates: Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, WashU, Emory, and UVA.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that they don't have trouble attracting more than enough qualified candidates.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps they are attracting the best and brightest through meeting their demonstrated financial need, with need-based scholarships?

You should put your kid through school. If you can afford it, why should someone else be paying your kid's way? The entitlement of those seeking out the best merit deals is so high on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Colby, Haverford, Vassar, Carleton, Barnard, Hamilton, and Colgate are just some of the best known examples of LACs that have essentially no merit aid, outside of maybe 1 or 2 $2000 national merit scholarship awards a year from alumni restricted funds.

These schools have some of the highest endowments per students of any institution, making it easily attainable to finance a merit scholarship opportunity covering minimum 20K a year and up to a full ride. The first five schools above all have over 1 million dollar per student. Given that they tend to lose cross admits to top universities, why not offer merit aid to attract the best and brightest to their schools? Several universities already do this to lure in HYPMS level candidates: Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, WashU, Emory, and UVA.

They have no trouble attracting the best and the brightest.

[Anonymous]

Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, WashU, Emory, and UVA are larger than the SLACs, and the amount of merit they offer as a % of their enrollment is miniscule.

[Anonymous]

Because they know there are plenty of dim-witted suckers willing to go broke to pay the inflated tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Colby, Haverford, Vassar, Carleton, Barnard, Hamilton, and Colgate are just some of the best known examples of LACs that have essentially no merit aid, outside of maybe 1 or 2 $2000 national merit scholarship awards a year from alumni restricted funds.

These schools have some of the highest endowments per students of any institution, making it easily attainable to finance a merit scholarship opportunity covering minimum 20K a year and up to a full ride. The first five schools above all have over 1 million dollar per student. Given that they tend to lose cross admits to top universities, why not offer merit aid to attract the best and brightest to their schools? Several universities already do this to lure in HYPMS level candidates: Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, WashU, Emory, and UVA.

They have no trouble attracting the best and the brightest.

They do. Their regular decision yield is dismal. I believe the highest is like 35%. Most are in the 15-25% range. Top universities tend to start at 30% and peak at 80%+.

Their SAT averages aren't as high as the top universities, nor are the percent of their overall class ranking top 10% in HS.

It's rare for students admitted to both a top LAC and a top university to pick the LAC in my experience. Merit aid could make a worthwhile swing.

[Anonymous]

Because they don't need to. They can pick and chose the best and the brightest to fill their classes, AND they have large enough endowments that they can offer admissions pretty much need blind.

Schools that are looking to raise their profile offer merit aid. These schools also often are need aware.

[Anonymous]

This is addressed in todays Daily podcast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they don't need to. They can pick and chose the best and the brightest to fill their classes, AND they have large enough endowments that they can offer admissions pretty much need blind.

Schools that are looking to raise their profile offer merit aid. These schools also often are need aware.

+1

What would be the point of spending money to fight over the same 100 kids who applied to R1 universities and SLACs, when there are plenty of highly qualified kids who really want a LAC education?

[Anonymous]

High ROI

[Anonymous]

they are using their $ to attract diverse students who would otherwise not be able to afford their schools; they don't have trouble attracting high stats kids

[Anonymous]

They don't need to, and their need-based financial aid is incredible compared to a lot of private schools that do offer merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Why pick on SLACs. The Ivies also do not give merit based aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Pomona, Wellesley, Middlebury, Colby, Haverford, Vassar, Carleton, Barnard, Hamilton, and Colgate are just some of the best known examples of LACs that have essentially no merit aid, outside of maybe 1 or 2 $2000 national merit scholarship awards a year from alumni restricted funds.

These schools have some of the highest endowments per students of any institution, making it easily attainable to finance a merit scholarship opportunity covering minimum 20K a year and up to a full ride. The first five schools above all have over 1 million dollar per student. Given that they tend to lose cross admits to top universities, why not offer merit aid to attract the best and brightest to their schools? Several universities already do this to lure in HYPMS level candidates: Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, WashU, Emory, and UVA.

Carleton gives the $2k/year to all finalists for National Merit (34 last year) and finalists for the National Hispanic Recognition Program: "Students who are finalists in these programs receive a $2,000 award per year for their four years at Carleton as a recognition of the accomplishments of these scholars. Carleton enrolls a significant number of National Merit Scholars — 34 in the class of 2025 alone — and has enrolled more National Merit Scholars than many other small liberal arts colleges for several years."

https://www.carleton.edu/financial-aid/our-approach/

It's true that they don't do other merit aid, but they are generous with financial aid for so-called donut-hole families, as discussed in this earlier thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/810650.page