These terms describe different parts of the college admission and financial aid process. Understanding the difference is important because a college being need-blind does not automatically mean that it will pay for all of a student’s financial need. A college may have one policy for U.S. students and another for international applicants.
What is financial need?
A college generally looks at a family’s financial circumstances and determines how much the family can reasonably be expected to contribute towards the cost of attendance. This may include factors such as income, assets, family size and other financial circumstances.
The college then calculates the student’s demonstrated financial need.
A simplified way of thinking about it is: Cost of attendance − Expected family contribution = Demonstrated financial need.
The actual calculation can be more complicated and varies from college to college. For international students, some colleges use the CSS Profile to collect information about family income, assets and expenses when assessing financial need.
What does need-blind admission mean?
Brown University defines need-blind admission as a policy in which an applicant’s ability to pay is not a determining factor in the admission decision. For a student, this means that needing financial aid should not, by itself, make you less likely to be admitted under a need-blind admission policy.
What does need-aware admission mean?
Need-aware admission means that a student’s financial need may be considered as part of the admission decision. For example, if a college has limited financial aid resources, the amount of financial aid an applicant may require could be one factor considered during admission.
This does not mean that a need-aware college will not admit students who need financial aid. Many need-aware colleges provide substantial financial assistance to admitted students.
What are the four possible combinations?
Thinking about admission policy and financial aid policy separately gives us four broad combinations:
| Admission policy | Financial aid policy | What it means |
| Need-blind | Meets full demonstrated need | Financial need is not considered in admission, and the college meets the student’s full demonstrated need according to its policy. |
| Need-blind | Does not meet full demonstrated need | Financial need is not considered in admission, but the college may leave some demonstrated need unmet. |
| Need-aware | Meets full demonstrated need | Financial need may be considered during admission, but admitted students’ full demonstrated need is met. |
| Need-aware | Does not meet full demonstrated need | Financial need may be considered during admission, and some demonstrated need may remain unmet. |
For a student who needs significant financial assistance, need-blind admission + meeting full demonstrated need is particularly attractive. However, this combination is rare, especially for international applicants.
Only a small group of U.S. colleges have historically offered this combination to international undergraduates. Examples include:
- Amherst College
- Brown University
- Bowdoin College
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Princeton University
- Yale University
What does “meets full demonstrated financial need” mean?
When a college says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, it means that after determining how much financial assistance a student needs, the college aims to provide enough financial aid to cover that calculated need.
This does not necessarily mean that the student will pay nothing. It also does not mean that every student’s financial aid package will look the same. The college may determine that a family can reasonably contribute a certain amount, while the college’s financial aid covers the remaining demonstrated need.
Therefore, when comparing colleges, don’t look only for the phrase “meets full need”. Check how the college calculates financial need and what the financial aid package actually contains.
How do you apply for financial aid?
Applying for financial aid is generally a separate part of the college application process.
The exact forms and deadlines vary by college. Some U.S. colleges use the CSS Profile to collect information about family finances when assessing eligibility for institutional financial aid, including for international students.
What should international students check before applying?
If you need financial aid, don’t look only at whether a college is need-blind or need-aware. Check:
- Does the policy apply to international students?
- Does the college meet 100% of demonstrated financial need?
- What financial aid forms and deadlines apply?
- What types of aid are included in the financial aid package?
Always check the college’s current policy for your admission year, as financial aid policies can change and may differ for domestic and international students.
Conclusion
Need-blind and need-aware describe whether financial need can influence an admission decision. They do not, by themselves, tell you how much financial aid a college will provide. If you need financial aid, look at the college’s admission and financial aid policies together, and make sure they apply to your applicant category.
As you prepare your applications, check each college’s deadlines and application requirements, and make sure you submit everything on time.
