Understanding Selective Colleges

Selective colleges can offer strong academic and personal opportunities, as well as generous financial aid packages.

What Makes a College "Selective"?

  • Accepts a smaller percentage of applicants

  • Often has rigorous academic expectations

  • Often requires a strong academic record and extracurricular involvement

Financial Aid at Selective Colleges

  • Many selective colleges offer generous financial aid, especially to students from low- and middle-income families. However, there are key things to know:

    • Need-Based Aid Only: Some selective schools offer limited or no merit scholarships and instead focus on offering need-based aid.

  • Many colleges meet 100% of demonstrated need without requiring students to take out loans. These schools can be very affordable for low-income students

  • CSS Profile: Many selective colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA to determine eligibility for institutional aid

Resources to estimate your costs:

  • MyinTuition Quick Cost Estimator: answer six questions to estimate your cost at different schools across the US (over 75 included)

  • Use each college’s Net Price Calculator to get a personalized estimate of financial aid and out-of-pocket costs

Testing Policies

  • Some selective colleges require the SAT or ACT, while others are test-optional

  • Be sure to check the testing policy for each school you're applying to

  • Explore this list: FairTest.org - Test-Optional Colleges

 
Contact