Studying at USA can be very expensive. US universities charge some of the highest tuition fees in the world, especially those prestigious colleges with strong global reputations. One form of financial aid which is particularly distinctive to the US is associated with “Need-Blind Admission”. This term means an institution has an official policy of not considering applicants’ financial resources when deciding whether to offer them a place. This policy may be extended to all students, including internationals, or it may be limited to US nationals only.
What does need-blind admission mean?
The implications of need-blind admission policies vary depending on the institution. The common element is that US universities promising need-blind admission do not consider applicants’ ability to pay when deciding whether to offer them a place on a program. This may only apply to applicants from within the US, or it may be extended to international students as well.
Which US universities offer need-blind admission?
Many US universities have some form of need-blind admission policy, but this does not always extend to international applicants, and does not always mean admission offers are accompanied by financial aid. Currently, only five US universities offer need-blind admission and full-need financial aid to all students, including international applicants. These are:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Harvard University
Princeton University
Yale University
Amherst College
Why Choose a “Need-Blind” School?
If you’re sick of the bureaucracy of colleges and universities, a need-blind policy school is perfect for you. If you are admitted into these types of schools, it is simply because you deserve to be there and not because they know you can pay them. These types of schools accept only the best of each batch, as they are more concerned with having the best students than being paid by them. Most of these schools also have a significant amount of funding and backing, which is obvious because they can afford not to worry about which students can pay for tuition and which ones can’t. If you want to be selected on your merit, a need-blind school is for you.
Your financial status shouldn’t matter when applying to great schools. If you want your merit to be judged instead of your wallet, need-blind admission schools are the perfect choice for you; accepting only the best students, whether they have the money or not.
