I guess it depends on the school.
I believe my second child received financial aid because her sibling was attending a different college. The school keeps the same tuition for four years, so she locked in the first-year tuition rate, even after the first child graduated. However, you have to maintain a certain GPA to keep the aid.

For Ivies- it’s of sibling is at the same school usually.

Anonymous wrote:CSS schools tend to care more. It's no longer part of the FAFSA calculation thanks to Lamar Alexander and his hatred of families

Utter false but being called out on this won't keep you from posteming bigoted remarks ( you might want to read up on the subject before you post again)

Just remember that financial aid is given year by year. If they give credit because there is an older sibling in college, that credit is only as long as the sibling is in college. Dropping out, going part time, or graduating will reduce aid for the other student.

CSS schools tend to care more. It's no longer part of the FAFSA calculation thanks to Lamar Alexander and his hatred of families

Depends on the college.

The Net Price Calculators should tell you what you need to know.

We have two kids one grade apart. Our kids are average students. Our first wanted a big state school. He has applied to and got merit from quite a few but he is going next year to our local public. No merit just a reasonable cost. Next kid the following year may not have the stats for our local public. He may also not have the stats for OOS merit so we may be merit hunting.

Do privates take into consideration the fact that you have another kid in college when they give you an award? Playing with the net price calculator it seems they do but not sure. If this true it opens up a lot of doors for kid number 2.