‘It’s all about competing for the best students.’
And about boosting college rankings?
Studies by the National Association for College Admission Counseling showed that in the mid-1990s, a large majority of colleges provided financial aid based only on need; but that by 2007, nearly as many provided aid based on perceived merit, academic or otherwise.
“The most elite institutions in the United States have historically had policies that they would not give aid for any reason other than financial need,” said Jerome Sullivan, executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. “But there were always exceptions, and since the ’80s, you’ve seen more and more schools shift away from that. It’s all about competing for the best students.”
Cost of College 