Top 10 Colleges for Financial Aid

With the average cost of tuition at public and private colleges skyrocketing, today's students are less concerned about getting into their top-choice college than they are about figuring out how to pay for it. The prospect of having to pay back thousands of dollars in loans is daunting for students thinking about college and can be the overriding factor in their decision about what school to attend. Fortunately, there are schools out there that go the extra mile to help ease the financial burden of getting a quality education. According to The Princeton Review's annual survey of 115,000 students at the nation's Best 361 Colleges, these ten schools are doing some creative things to make sure their students are happy with their financial aid.

Here is the list of top 10 colleges for financial aid.

1. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)
Princeton's generous financial aid policy makes it possible for many students to afford to attend this "amazing" university. Students can look forward to receiving aid packages that meet 100 percent of their demonstrated need. To top it off, their need-based aid award will not include any student loans. With an administration "that runs like butter" and "ample" funding available for students to pursue various interests, it's no wonder that Princeton has landed at the top of this list.

Students who considered Princeton also looked at Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Yale University.

2. Pomona College (Claremont, California)
The personal attention students receive at Pomona extends beyond the classroom. At Pomona, "you get free music lessons if you are on any type of financial aid." Students receive "great financial aid awards" that meet all of their demonstrated need. For these happy undergrads, Pomona is the total package, offering "spectacular academics, a fair financial aid package, and the chance to do research as an undergraduate."

Students who considered Pomona also looked at Yale University, University of California-Berkeley, Claremont McKenna College, and Wesleyan University.

3. New College of Florida (Sarasota, Florida)
NCF's low tuition and "unparalleled" academic program make it a great deal for students seeking a great education at a low cost. The "least expensive school in the Florida system," New College still manages to offer "very generous" financial aid packages. All admitted first-year students at New College are guaranteed scholarship funding, and the school meets 90 percent of each student's financial need. Students who chose NCF say "there simply was no other choice that could compare."

Students who considered New College also looked at University of Florida, University of Miami, Eckerd College, and Brown University.

4. Stanford University (Stanford, California)
Stanford has so many things going for it that it's tough to list them all. In addition to "great professors, very friendly people, [and a] great location," Stanford offers students "great financial aid" packages. Families whose total annual income is less than $45K will not have to pay anything towards their children's educational costs at Stanford, and those whose income falls in the $45–60K range can expect a pro-rated reduction. No wonder the "exceptional" students on Stanford's campus are always so "relaxed and playful."

Students who considered Stanford also looked at Columbia University, Harvard College, University of California-Los Angeles, and Yale University.

5. Truman State University (Kirksville, Missouri)
Students who attend Truman State University are convinced that "Truman is one of the best public schools in Missouri." Moreover, "it is a great deal financially." With low tuition and plentiful need-based financial aid, Truman is an affordable option for many students. Merit-based aid also abounds at Truman and there is even a special loan program to help students with the cost of buying a computer. For the "many" students here who "receive financial aid," Truman made the "most financial sense."

Students who considered Truman also looked at Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University, and Illinois Wesleyan University.

6. Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois)
At Lake Forest College, "the administration bends over backward to ensure students are satisfied with their financial aid." Lake Forest's "generous" financial aid programs awards up to $10,500 in grants before resorting to loans. Furthermore, it maintains its grant aid for all four years. Many academic, talent, and departmental scholarships are also available. As one student explains, "Practically anyone can get something. We say that the school pays us to go there."

Students who considered Lake Forest also looked at Connecticut College, Kenyon College, University of Denver, and Lewis & Clark College.

7. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California)
CMC offers students "amazing financial aid packages" and is committed to meeting 100 percent of students' demonstrated financial need. Financial aid officers are on a first-name basis with students and will "work with you to make sure it is possible for you to attend." Students appreciate that administrators are "very easy to get access to" and are "sensitive to students' needs." They also enjoy "financial support for summer opportunities."

Students who considered Claremont McKenna also looked at Amherst College, Georgetown University, Pitzer College, and Scripps College.

8. Beloit College (Beloit, Wisconsin)
Beloit College offers its students a "friendly atmosphere, gorgeous campus, [and] really good financial aid." With admissions decisions based entirely on a student's qualifications and not their ability to pay, Beloit has "plenty of money" available for the students who need it. At Beloit, the "emphasis is on the importance of hands-on experience such as internships and study abroad" and the college is committed to helping students "find [and finance] these opportunities."

Students who considered Beloit also looked at Carleton College, Colorado College, Grinnell College, and Ripon College.

9. Williams College (Williamstown, Massachusetts)
"Talented professors, diverse and talented students, [and] great financial aid" are some of the benefits of attending Williams College. And it's no wonder: With an endowment of over $1.5 billion, or well over $700,000 per student, Williams is able to fully subsidize costs for its entire student body. Scholarships are abundant, including several Tyng Scholarships, which provide money for Williams plus three additional years of graduate or professional school.

Students who considered Williams also looked at Amherst College, Dartmouth College, Hamilton College, and Colgate University.

10. Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana)
At Wabash College, "scholarships and financial aid are downright incredible." With an impressive endowment-per-student ratio, Wabash can afford to distribute aid generously. In addition to meeting 100 percent of students' demonstrated need, the school also offers $3 million in competitive scholarships each year on its Honor Scholarship Weekend, during which students travel to the school to take competitive exams. Talent and leadership awards are also available.

Students who considered Wabash also looked at Purdue University-West Lafayette, Butler University, Hanover College, and Miami University.

(Source: MSN Encarta)