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Financial Aid at Top Colleges
Learn how QuestBridge college partners can be more affordable for students from low-income backgrounds than other college pathways.
Students from low-income backgrounds can afford a top college! Through the National College Match, students can be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship to QuestBridge college partners. As you learn more about the financial aid process and terms associated with paying for college, it’s important to consider what financial aid packages actually look like. On this page, you'll learn how QuestBridge college partners can be less expensive than other institutions for students from low-income backgrounds whose goal is earning a bachelor's degree.
What you’ll find on this page
Financial benefit of top colleges
Colleges and universities across the country have varying abilities to provide financial aid. If a student submits the FAFSA form, they can expect to receive the same federal aid at every college they are admitted to. However, some colleges, such as QuestBridge college partners, are able to meet 100% of the student's demonstrated financial need. Public colleges and many lower-endowment private colleges generally do not have the resources to meet all demonstrated need.
QuestBridge college partners also have numerous resources, supports, and opportunities to ensure students thrive, succeed, and graduate. Research also shows that attending selective colleges, like QuestBridge college partners, could substantially increase intergenerational economic mobility (Chetty, 2020).
Comparing college costs
Gain insight into what the real cost might look like at two Texas-based colleges through an example. Start at to 27:23 in our Financial Aid 101 webinar to follow along via video, or read through the scenario below.
Meet Sam
- Housing: Sam’s family rents an apartment in Austin, Texas.
- Academic goals: Sam wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years.
- Financial goals: Graduate with as little debt as possible and avoid loans.
| Age: | 17 |
| High school year: | 12th grade |
| Family size: | Family of four: 2 adults, 2 children |
| Annual family income: | $65,000 |
| Family savings: | $2,000 |
| Annual student income: | $3,000 |
| Student savings: | $1,500 |
Sam's potential college costs
Below are the sample costs of two different pathways to a bachelor's degree. Costs and aid estimates were sourced in 2026 using the Net Price Calculators on individual sample institutions in Texas.
| College A: 4-year, in-state public institution Cost of attendance: $30,314 per year | College B: QuestBridge college partner Cost of attendance: $90,905 per year | |
| Student/Family contribution | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Work-study | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Loans | $3,500 | $0 |
| Financial aid | $13,566 | $86,405 |
| Unmet need | $8,748 | $0 |
| Real cost (after aid is applied) | $14,248 | $2,000 |
Note that many colleges will require a student contribution to their education, which varies by school. Even if a family has a very low income and consequently no parental contribution, the student may still be expected to contribute to their own education. This amount can typically be covered through on-campus work-study jobs or outside scholarships.
In the example above, the real cost to the student is lower with College B. Even though College B may initially appear to be the most expensive, the amount that the student's family is responsible for after financial aid has been applied is far less than College A. The differences are even greater when you take into consideration that the costs for College A are calculated for in-state students, so they will be much higher if someone is applying from out of state.
Sam knows that College B will have the resources, support, and opportunities to help her thrive and graduate. Given the school's commitment to no loans and generous financial aid, Sam feels confident she can graduate with no debt and avoid loans.
Resources
- Financial Aid Overview →
- Financial Aid Glossary →
- Financial Aid Guided Learning →
- College Partner Net Price Calculators →
Sources:
- Raj Chetty, John N. Friedman, Emmanuel Saez, Nicholas Turner, and Danny Yagan, "The Determinants of Income Segregation and Intergenerational Mobility: Using Test Scores to Measure Undermatching," NBER Working Paper 26748 (2020), https://doi.org/10.3386/w26748.