During your travels to different schools, you might make use of some of the following questions in determining each school’s financial aid policies:

Does the college practice a need-blind admission policy?

What percentage of students is on financial aid?

What percentage of students had their full need met?

What percentage of the funds was need-based?

What percentage of the funds (if any) was merit-based?

Do the same financial aid procedures and policies apply for the entire four years?

If your family has more than one student in college, will that be taken into consideration when figuring out your family contribution?

If the cost of the college goes up, will your aid go up accordingly?

Can the school’s financial aid be used to cover the costs of study-abroad programs?

How are outside scholarships handled? Are they credited against the loan component of your aid, the grant component, or the family contribution?

Do you need a certain grade-point-average to keep your institutional grant?

Are emergency funds available for short-term loans?

Are there any tuition payment plans that will allow you and your parents to spread out your payments over a period of months?

Are emergency funds available for short-term loans?

Are there any tuition payment plans that will allow you and your parents to spread out your payments over a period of months?

What is the policy with regard to non-custodial parents and stepparents? Are they expected to contribute if financially able?

What is the typical financial aid package?

How much indebtedness can you expect after four years?

How many hours a week will you have to work to fulfill the work-study portion of your aid package?