As college costs continue to rise, many families worry they might not be able to afford college. For example, the average cost of attendance in 2018–2019 school year was $35,676 at private colleges and $9,716 for public colleges, according to a US News & World Report. After you include room and board, you are looking at another $15,000 to $20,000. That's why our list of colleges that give the most financial aid will come in handy.
These colleges made the Financial Aid Honor Roll in Princeton's Review's 2020 Edition. Some of them meet 100% of demonstrated need – a few without any loans. Although the average net price is listed below, your net price will be based on your family's financial circumstances.
>> RELATED ARTICLES: How to Use The Net Price Calculator
1. Bowdoin College (ME)
Undergraduate Students: 1,812
Cost of Attendance: $73,800
Average Net Price: $22,810
Average Net Price by Income:
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $1,774 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $11,127 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $11,764 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $23,978 |
| $110,001+ | $42,479 |
Find your personal Net Price for Bowdoin College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
2. California Institute of Technology (CA)
Undergraduate Students: 961
Cost of Attendance: $74,763
Average Net Price: $24,245
3. Average Net Price By Income:
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $12,851 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $20,368 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $18,661 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $25,764 |
| $110,001+ | $37,322 |
Find your personal Net Price -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first-year, undergraduate student at Caltech.
4. Gettsyburg College (PA)
Undergraduate Students: 2,411
Cost of Attendance: $71,350
Average Net Price: $25,597
Average Net Price by Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $9,585 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $13,313 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $15,904 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $21,882 |
| $110,001+ | $38,019 |
Find your personal Net Price for Gettysburg College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
5. Grinnell College (IA)
Undergraduate Students: 1,660
Cost of Attendance: $70,346
Average Net Price: $22,844
Average Net Price by Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $9,585 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $13,313 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $15,904 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $21,882 |
| $110,001+ | $38,019 |
Find your personal Net Price for Grinnell College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
6. Pomona College (Claremont, CA)
Undergraduate Students: 1,567
Cost of Attendance: $75,080
Average Net Price: $15,840
Average Net Price by Income:
Find your personal Net Price for Pomona College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $5,832 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $8,153 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $7,183 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $22,832 |
| $110,001+ | $39,670 |
7. Princeton University (NJ)
Undergraduate Students: 5,246
Cost of Attendance: $69,020
Average Net Price: $9,327
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $5,866 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $9,246 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $15,195 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $25,189 |
| $110,001+ | $38,038 |
Find your personal Net Price for Princeton University -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
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8. Reed College (OR)
Undergraduate Students: 1,415
Cost of Attendance: $76,960
Average Net Price: $31,815
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $6,167 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $10,247 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $10,716 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $23,503 |
| $110,001+ | $43,200 |
Find your personal Net Price for Reed College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
9. Rice University (TX)
Undergraduate Students: 3,970
Cost of Attendance: $67,402
Average Net Price: $20,237
10. Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $14,452 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $15,086 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $17,731 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $22,036 |
| $110,001+ | $29,600 |
Find your personal Net Price for Rice University -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
11. Thomas Aquinas College (CA & MA)
Undergraduate Students: 1,114
Cost of Attendance: $38,116
Average Net Price: $24,857
12. Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $1,168 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $6,043 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $11,146 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $14,814 |
| $110,001+ | $34,694 |
Find your personal Net Price for Thomas Aquinas College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student usually factoring only needs based aid.
13. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
Undergraduate Students: 73,148
Cost of Attendance: 6,856
Average Net Price: $19,959
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $4,360 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $7,982 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $15,602 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $19,315 |
| $110,001+ | $40,559 |
Find your personal Net Price for Vanderbilt University -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
14. Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Undergraduate Students: 2,323
Cost of Attendance: $75,780
Average Net Price: $23,687
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $5,716 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $6,580 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $9,528 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $21,665 |
| $110,001+ | $45,022 |
Find your personal Net Price for Vassar College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
15. Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
Undergraduate Students: 7,253
Cost of Attendance: $76,910
Average Net Price: $28,540
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $2,780 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $3,798 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $8,188 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $15,615 |
| $110,001+ | $44,676 |
Find your personal Net Price for Washington University in St. Louis -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
16. Williams College (MA)
Undergraduate Students: 2,033
Cost of Attendance: $75,520
Average Net Price: $22,667
Average Net Price By Income
| Name of Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
Find your personal Net Price for Williams College -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
17. Yale University (CT)
Undergraduate Students: 5,742
Cost of Attendance: $76,490
Average Net Price: $18,627
Average Net Price By Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $14,885 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $16,887 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $21,790 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $30,216 |
| $110,001+ | $46,394 |
| Source: Based on 2017-18 data from National Center for Education Statistics. |
Find your personal Net Price for Yale University -- an estimate of what you can expect to pay as a first year, undergraduate student.
Wrap Up
In summary, the colleges listed this post are among some of the most generous. These are the colleges that give the most financial aid (not factoring in loans). If you have the academic chops to get into these colleges, then go for it. If you are lucky enough to get in, you could conceivably graduate with very low student debt or, perhaps, none at all.
_______________________
Source for Net Price Data:
- TheCollegeScorecard.ed.gov (data retrieved 8/2019)
- National Center For Educational Statistics (2017-18 data for Reed College,
Rice University and Thomas Aquinas College)
