The Top Need-Blind Colleges of 2023

Princeton campus
May 4, 2023
Contents

”Rohan

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/4/23

It’s no secret that college is expensive. Most students need to save up a college fund to cover the cost. Read on to learn about need-blind colleges and how they can help you!

Finances are a major consideration for going to college. Most colleges have access to the financial information you provide through the FAFSA, which can affect your acceptance chances. To combat their high costs, some schools have become need-blind colleges to accept more students that meet their desired demographics. 

Many top universities in America have become so expensive to attend that most students applying to them need need-blindness for a competitive application.

Need-blindness is the solution for less wealthy students to get accepted without fear of application discrimination. Colleges make their applications fairer for everyone this way! 

If you’re still wondering “what are need-blind colleges,” you’ll find the answer below.

What Are Need-Blind Colleges?

Need-blind colleges don’t allow financial information to affect their application decision. By doing so, these universities attract more students needing financial aid and make their applications more competitive. Students should know if their college is need-blind, as it may help when picking what university they want to attend.   

However, most colleges fall into the need-aware category or schools that account for student finances when considering applications. Going to need-blind universities places more of a financial burden on the school. While it’s important to apply to colleges regardless of needs status to have more options, it’s a plus for a school to be need-blind.

Private colleges are more able to be need-blind than public. They can do this because they take many private donations from their alums for current students. While public schools offer university financial aid and scholarships, taking out a government student loan is more available for students and less costly for a public school.

Top 10 Need-Blind Colleges 

Below is the list of top colleges in the U.S. that offer need-blind applications. Few of these schools have incredibly competitive applications, made even more by being need-blind. Some universities on this list offer need-blindness to international students.

College Ivy League International Aid Ranking Annual Tuition Average Covered
Princeton Yes Yes Ranked #1 $59,710 $62,200
MIT No Yes Ranked #2 $59,750 $ 53,997
Harvard Yes Yes Ranked #3 $54,269 $61,900
Stanford No No Ranked #3 $66,924 $62,557.
Yale Yes Yes Ranked #3 (tie) $64,700 $28,881 to $76,925
College Ivy League International Aid Ranking Annual Tuition Average Covered
U of Chicago No No Ranked #6 $61,179 $58,951
Johns Hopkins No No Ranked #7 $60,480 $59,000
U of Pennsylvania Yes Partial
(MX and CA)
Ranked #7 $56,212 $56,095
CIT No No Ranked #9 $58,479 $60,172
Northwestern No No Ranked #10 $20,797 (Quarterly) $57,000

Most top universities in the United States have built-in programs that automatically apply need-blindness to applicants that meet a specific requirement, such as being in the top ten percent of your high school academically. Need-blind schools use the status to attract the top percentage of students for their highly acclaimed university programs.

The top ten need-blind colleges fall into two categories, Ivy League and Private Ivy-Plus level schools. Ivy Plus schools are equivalent to the Ivy League in education but don’t have the Ivy League distinction. 

Private Ivy Plus Schools 

Need-blindness is a function of most private schools. Private schools, especially Ivy Plus schools, offer unique financial aid programs to accepted U.S. applicants. Private universities tend to have enough resources from being so prestigious that they are willing to fund students' needs, from tuition to board, without asking questions. 

Private schools do not require students to complete the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If they did, they would have access to their applicant’s financial information. Since they don’t take government loans, these universities usually offer scholarships and financial aid opportunities. 

Ivy League Financial Aid and Need-Blindness

All Ivy League students offer need-blind admissions for their students, with a few elected to extend that offer to international students. All Ivy League schools are private institutions. Their financial aid often comes from each college’s specific donations funded programs rather than through public government-funded student loans.   

Ivy League schools offer financial aid endowment programs to meet student needs better. This financial aid program completely replaces the need for any scholarship. If you make it into an Ivy League school, the financial aid options available will ensure that students should be able to afford the school, especially if they stand out merit-wise.

FAQs: Colleges With Need-Blind Admissions

Below, you’ll find some common questions about need-blind colleges. 

1. Are Colleges Really Need-Blind?

Not all American universities are need-blind colleges, but many top-ranked schools are need-blind. Need-blind colleges do not consider student applications based on their financial needs. Only some colleges can be need-blind because it places more of a financial burden on the school. 

2. How Many U.S. Universities Are Need-Blind?

Over 100 U.S. universities, including many Ivy League, Public Ivy League, and highly ranked schools, are need-blind.

3. Which Ivy League Is Need-Blind?

All Ivy League schools offer need-blind admission to U.S. students. Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Yale are the only need-blind colleges among the Ivy League universities for international students.

4. Are There Need-Blind Colleges for International Students?

Yes, five select universities offer need-blindness to international students. These colleges include

  • Princeton
  • Harvard
  • Yale
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • MIT

Having need-blind available for all students has increased the population of international students at these colleges.  

5. Is Harvard Need-Blind?

Yes, Harvard is a need-blind school. Affordability is a priority for Harvard College. By being need-blind, Harvard opens up availability to more students. Harvard falls into the full need-blindness category, being open to all students, including international ones. 

6. What Is the Difference Between a Need-Blind and Need-Based Aid?

Need-blind admissions colleges take students' financial needs out of the admission equation. Most need-blind schools are private, so students often earn financial aid regardless of their needs. Need-based aid extends to students that need it the most and require financial information through the application or from the FAFSA.

7. What Is the Difference Between a Need-Aware and Need-Blind College?

Need-aware colleges consider financial needs in the process of reviewing an application. Students include their family’s financial information from the FAFSA, so a college that accepts it cannot be need-blind. Need-blind colleges ignore a student’s financial background and only consider the applicant's merit. 

8. How Do I Qualify for a Need-Blind University?

Qualifications for need-blindness vary based on the school. Some colleges only offer need-blindness to students that were in the top ten percent academically of their graduating class. Regardless, you’ll need to meet the application requirements and be up for acceptance into the university before need-blindness applies.

Final Thoughts

Need-blind colleges ensure that their accepted students receive full support regardless of their financial needs. These highly ranked universities take on the financial burden through private donation funding. By doing so, future students from all backgrounds can attend a school with peers who will challenge them and take on a great opportunity. 

Need blindness is a perk of colleges that have great distinction. While it’s not something every college can afford to do, private universities use it to give back to their students and foster a greater community. The donations they receive from their numerous successful alums sow the seeds of the successful students that will define the future. 

Most of these schools have incredibly competitive applications, so if you plan on applying, best of luck!

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What Are Need-Blind Colleges?Top 10 Need-Blind Colleges FAQs: Colleges With Need-Blind Admissions

”Rohan

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/4/23

It’s no secret that college is expensive. Most students need to save up a college fund to cover the cost. Read on to learn about need-blind colleges and how they can help you!

Finances are a major consideration for going to college. Most colleges have access to the financial information you provide through the FAFSA, which can affect your acceptance chances. To combat their high costs, some schools have become need-blind colleges to accept more students that meet their desired demographics. 

Many top universities in America have become so expensive to attend that most students applying to them need need-blindness for a competitive application.

Need-blindness is the solution for less wealthy students to get accepted without fear of application discrimination. Colleges make their applications fairer for everyone this way! 

If you’re still wondering “what are need-blind colleges,” you’ll find the answer below.

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What Are Need-Blind Colleges?

Need-blind colleges don’t allow financial information to affect their application decision. By doing so, these universities attract more students needing financial aid and make their applications more competitive. Students should know if their college is need-blind, as it may help when picking what university they want to attend.   

However, most colleges fall into the need-aware category or schools that account for student finances when considering applications. Going to need-blind universities places more of a financial burden on the school. While it’s important to apply to colleges regardless of needs status to have more options, it’s a plus for a school to be need-blind.

Private colleges are more able to be need-blind than public. They can do this because they take many private donations from their alums for current students. While public schools offer university financial aid and scholarships, taking out a government student loan is more available for students and less costly for a public school.

Top 10 Need-Blind Colleges 

Below is the list of top colleges in the U.S. that offer need-blind applications. Few of these schools have incredibly competitive applications, made even more by being need-blind. Some universities on this list offer need-blindness to international students.

College Ivy League International Aid Ranking Annual Tuition Average Covered
Princeton Yes Yes Ranked #1 $59,710 $62,200
MIT No Yes Ranked #2 $59,750 $ 53,997
Harvard Yes Yes Ranked #3 $54,269 $61,900
Stanford No No Ranked #3 $66,924 $62,557.
Yale Yes Yes Ranked #3 (tie) $64,700 $28,881 to $76,925
College Ivy League International Aid Ranking Annual Tuition Average Covered
U of Chicago No No Ranked #6 $61,179 $58,951
Johns Hopkins No No Ranked #7 $60,480 $59,000
U of Pennsylvania Yes Partial
(MX and CA)
Ranked #7 $56,212 $56,095
CIT No No Ranked #9 $58,479 $60,172
Northwestern No No Ranked #10 $20,797 (Quarterly) $57,000

Most top universities in the United States have built-in programs that automatically apply need-blindness to applicants that meet a specific requirement, such as being in the top ten percent of your high school academically. Need-blind schools use the status to attract the top percentage of students for their highly acclaimed university programs.

The top ten need-blind colleges fall into two categories, Ivy League and Private Ivy-Plus level schools. Ivy Plus schools are equivalent to the Ivy League in education but don’t have the Ivy League distinction. 

Private Ivy Plus Schools 

Need-blindness is a function of most private schools. Private schools, especially Ivy Plus schools, offer unique financial aid programs to accepted U.S. applicants. Private universities tend to have enough resources from being so prestigious that they are willing to fund students' needs, from tuition to board, without asking questions. 

Private schools do not require students to complete the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If they did, they would have access to their applicant’s financial information. Since they don’t take government loans, these universities usually offer scholarships and financial aid opportunities. 

Ivy League Financial Aid and Need-Blindness

All Ivy League students offer need-blind admissions for their students, with a few elected to extend that offer to international students. All Ivy League schools are private institutions. Their financial aid often comes from each college’s specific donations funded programs rather than through public government-funded student loans.   

Ivy League schools offer financial aid endowment programs to meet student needs better. This financial aid program completely replaces the need for any scholarship. If you make it into an Ivy League school, the financial aid options available will ensure that students should be able to afford the school, especially if they stand out merit-wise.

FAQs: Colleges With Need-Blind Admissions

Below, you’ll find some common questions about need-blind colleges. 

1. Are Colleges Really Need-Blind?

Not all American universities are need-blind colleges, but many top-ranked schools are need-blind. Need-blind colleges do not consider student applications based on their financial needs. Only some colleges can be need-blind because it places more of a financial burden on the school. 

2. How Many U.S. Universities Are Need-Blind?

Over 100 U.S. universities, including many Ivy League, Public Ivy League, and highly ranked schools, are need-blind.

3. Which Ivy League Is Need-Blind?

All Ivy League schools offer need-blind admission to U.S. students. Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Yale are the only need-blind colleges among the Ivy League universities for international students.

4. Are There Need-Blind Colleges for International Students?

Yes, five select universities offer need-blindness to international students. These colleges include

Having need-blind available for all students has increased the population of international students at these colleges.  

5. Is Harvard Need-Blind?

Yes, Harvard is a need-blind school. Affordability is a priority for Harvard College. By being need-blind, Harvard opens up availability to more students. Harvard falls into the full need-blindness category, being open to all students, including international ones. 

6. What Is the Difference Between a Need-Blind and Need-Based Aid?

Need-blind admissions colleges take students' financial needs out of the admission equation. Most need-blind schools are private, so students often earn financial aid regardless of their needs. Need-based aid extends to students that need it the most and require financial information through the application or from the FAFSA.

7. What Is the Difference Between a Need-Aware and Need-Blind College?

Need-aware colleges consider financial needs in the process of reviewing an application. Students include their family’s financial information from the FAFSA, so a college that accepts it cannot be need-blind. Need-blind colleges ignore a student’s financial background and only consider the applicant's merit. 

8. How Do I Qualify for a Need-Blind University?

Qualifications for need-blindness vary based on the school. Some colleges only offer need-blindness to students that were in the top ten percent academically of their graduating class. Regardless, you’ll need to meet the application requirements and be up for acceptance into the university before need-blindness applies.

Final Thoughts

Need-blind colleges ensure that their accepted students receive full support regardless of their financial needs. These highly ranked universities take on the financial burden through private donation funding. By doing so, future students from all backgrounds can attend a school with peers who will challenge them and take on a great opportunity. 

Need blindness is a perk of colleges that have great distinction. While it’s not something every college can afford to do, private universities use it to give back to their students and foster a greater community. The donations they receive from their numerous successful alums sow the seeds of the successful students that will define the future. 

Most of these schools have incredibly competitive applications, so if you plan on applying, best of luck!

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