You may not know this: some colleges consider whether you and your family can afford the tuition before offering admission.
That may scare you into thinking that applying to college is out of reach if you can’t afford the high tuition costs at many US schools.
But there’s a growing list of “need-blind” colleges. What does that mean?
Put simply, “need-blind” means that a college does not consider your financial situation when making admissions decisions.
So, how do you determine which colleges are need-blind and what they offer? This guide will walk you through what you need to know, including a list of 120 need-blind colleges in the US.
Let’s start by exploring exactly what “need-blind” means and who qualifies.
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(click to skip ahead)What does “need-blind” mean?
At its core, being “need-blind” means that a college does not consider your financial situation when making admissions decisions. In other words, your ability to pay doesn’t affect whether or not you get in.
This can be a huge relief. It means you can apply to colleges without worrying that your family’s financial status will hurt your chances. Need-blind colleges evaluate applicants purely based on things like their academic achievements, extracurriculars, and personal qualities. (For a full guide to what colleges look for in students, head here.)
It’s also worth noting that only a handful of colleges are need-blind for both U.S. and international students.
Some schools are also only considered as “need-aware.” Need-aware schools assess your financial situation and may adjust their admission decisions based on it, though they still strive to meet your demonstrated need if you’re admitted.
For instance, if two applicants are equally qualified, a need-aware college might admit the one with a lower financial need if it has limited financial aid resources available for students.
On the other hand, a need-blind college would admit applicants based solely on their application, regardless of their financial need, and then work to meet the demonstrated financial need of the admitted students.
So, does “need-blind” mean free?
Attending a need-blind college doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay anything. Once admitted, you’ll still need to work out how to cover the costs, but these schools will attempt to meet your demonstrated financial need.
That means they’ll offer financial aid packages to help cover some, if not all, of the difference between what your family can contribute and the total cost of attendance.
Who determines how much your family can contribute? Your financial need is assessed through forms like the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the CSS Profile, which analyze your family's financial information.
For example, let’s say the FAFSA determines that your family's expected contribution is $10,000, and the total cost of attendance for your selected college is $50,000 per year. If it’s a need-blind college, your admissions decision won’t be influenced by your financial need.
(Here’s a helpful guide on how to complete the FAFSA!)
Ideally, your admission decision would include a financial aid package covering the remaining $40,000. But that’s not always guaranteed, as funding availability and other factors might impact the final aid offer.
“Need-blind” vs schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need
“Need-blind” refers to the admissions process. A need-blind college doesn’t consider your financial situation when deciding if you get in. They evaluate your application based on your academic performance, extracurricular activities, and other merits without factoring in your ability to pay.
On the other hand, schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need promise to cover all of your financial needs as determined by forms like the FAFSA or the CSS Profile. These schools ensure that the gap between what your family can afford and the total cost of attendance is fully covered by scholarships, grants, work-study, and sometimes loans.
Do all need-blind schools meet 100% of demonstrated need? Nope.
And not all schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need are need-blind. Some might be "need-aware," meaning they consider your financial situation during admissions but commit to meeting your demonstrated need once admitted.
In short, need-blind policies can give you a fair shot at admission, while schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need can ensure affordability once you’re in.
Different kinds of need-blind college policies
When exploring need-blind colleges, you may come across several terms that describe different financial aid policies and practices. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the various options available.
“Full need + no loan” colleges
Some colleges have a policy of meeting their students' full demonstrated financial need without including loans in their aid packages.
If you’re admitted, the college will cover the gap between what your family can afford and the total cost of attendance through scholarships, grants, and work-study programs.
The benefit is that you won’t graduate with debt, making these schools very appealing. However, these schools are often highly selective and may have limited spots available.
“Full need with loans” colleges
Other colleges also commit to meeting their students' full demonstrated financial need, but they include loans as part of their financial aid packages.
In these cases, the college covers the gap between your family’s contribution and the cost of attendance using a mix of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans.
While this means you’ll still receive substantial financial support, you’ll need to repay the loan portion after graduation. This policy can make college more accessible, though it comes with the responsibility of future debt.
“No guaranteed financial aid” colleges
Lastly, some colleges are need-blind in their admissions process but do not guarantee that they will meet your full demonstrated financial need.
This means that while your financial situation won’t affect your chances of getting in, you might not receive enough aid to cover the entire cost of attendance.
These schools may offer some financial aid, but it’s often not enough to completely bridge the gap. As a result, students might need to seek additional funding sources, such as private scholarships or personal loans, to afford their education.
How do financial aid calculators work?
A financial aid calculator is an online tool that helps you estimate the amount of financial aid you might receive from a college or university. It can help you understand potential costs and plan accordingly by providing an early estimate of your what you/your family would likely be expected to contribute, and possible aid packages.
Here are some free online financial aid calculators:
The College Board also has a list of colleges’ Net Price Calculators (something almost every college offers so you can try to understand the sticker price vs the actual cost you would probably pay).
It’s important to note that although financial aid calculators give a good approximation, they are not guarantees of actual aid offers. You will still need to wait for an accurate and official financial aid package from the colleges where you receive admission offers.
Still, financial aid calculators can give you a clearer picture of what to expect financially, helping you make more informed decisions about your college choices and financial planning.
List of all US need-blind colleges
Brown University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California Institute of Adrian College
Amherst College
Antioch College
Babson College
Barnard College
Baylor University
Berea College
Biola University
Boston College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
ogy (Caltech)
Carnegie Mellon University
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Ozarks
College of William and Mary
Columbia University
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Cornell College
Cornell University
Curtis Institute of Music
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Denison University
DePaul University
Duke University
Elon University
Emory University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Florida State University
Fordham University
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Harvard University
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Hiram College
Ithaca College
Jewish Theological Seminary
Johns Hopkins University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
Marist College
Marlboro College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mills College
Middlebury College
Mount St. Mary's College
New York University (NYU)
North Carolina State University (NCSU)
North Central College
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Olin College
Penn State
Pomona College
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
Randolph College
Rice University
Saint Louis University
Salem College
San Jose State University
Santa Clara University
Soka University of America
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
St. John's College
St. Olaf College
Stanford University
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University
Texas Christian University (TCU)
The College of New Jersey
The Julliard School
Thomas Aquinas College
Trinity University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California – Berkeley
University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Miami
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
University of New Hampshire
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of Southern California (USC)
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Ursuline College
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Wabash College
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
Yeshiva University
Key takeaways
“Need-blind” colleges consider your application without looking at your financial situation. But that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive enough financial aid to cover all your expenses. It just means that your financial need won’t affect your chances of admission.
Even if you apply to a need-blind college, it’s still important to research each school's financial aid policies and submit all required financial aid forms, like the FAFSA, on time. You may also want to explore other funding options, such as scholarships, grants, and work-study programs.
Want to learn more about ways to pay for college? Check out this guide next: Crash Course on How to Pay for College (Using as Little of Your Own Money as Possible).
Special thanks to Ameer for writing this blog post
Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
