HYS are 100% need based.ned wrote: While we agree on points 2 and 3, and you have inside info on point 1 that indicates a trend away from my point number 1, it gets a little fuzzy. I wonder what the ratio of need-based to merit-based funding is. And from what I've read, I think merit grant amounts are actually deducted from one's potential need-based grant, should one qualify for both, so in those cases, merit aid is not a deciding factor. The needy meritorious would have gotten a grant one way or another, up to a certain maximum award. The only people swayed by merit aid, at least financially, are those who don't qualify for need-based grants, and therefor don't really need to base their decisions on finances. It's more like an affirmation from the school that they are really really wanted as students. That's what the grant signifies, except for grants above $20k/year. Those would go above and beyond any need-based grants and impact one's quality of life while a student. But Fordham doesn't really deal in those figures.
I didn't get a merit grant, and I'm dirt poor, so I have a vested interest in my analysis
Fordham is 1/3rd merit.
Generally speaking, I'd say that within the T30, I think it ranges between 1/3rd need, 2/3rd merit, to 2/3rd need and 1/3rd merit
Outside of the T30 I think that proportionally more aid is merit and not need
Any merit aid is deducted from need-based aid.
For example, if you qualify for $25k need based aid, but you already receive $5k merit based, then you will only get $20k need based (for a total of $25k), which makes total sense.
I'm not sure what you mean about the "above $20,000" comment, but I do know that in the past, Fordham maxed out at $35k, but it appears this year their maximum is $30k. (with the exception of two full scholarships per year, which are a recent addition, and the Stein Scholarship for public interest, which appears independant of any need/merit aid, but is contingent upon other qualifications)