13
quintile but this may be attributable to the difference in the EFC for the two dependency types at these
quintiles; the average EFC for dependents was $300 compared to $1,300 for first-quintile independent
students at private institutions.
Figure 10 shows the distribution of
various types of aid by quintile for public
university dependent students and as
expected, the largest percentage receiving
grant or need-based aid were first and second
income quintile students. Middle-income
students were more likely to receive merit
aid than students at other income levels.
Figure 11 shows the impact of
institutional gift aid on unmet need after it’s
added to Pell and MAP grants and after the
EFC is taken into consideration and may
provide some insight into institutional
packaging decisions. As the figure shows,
remaining need is nearly even for first,
second, and third quintile families at public
universities after both MAP and institutional
aid are taken into consideration although – as
at all institutions - their remaining need
continues to be more than upper-income
students. The figure also shows the relative
importance of Pell, MAP, and institutional
gift aid to students at different school types
and income levels.
Unmet Need
Unmet need is the amount of need a
student has remaining after total aid plus the
EFC are subtracted from the student’s
budget. In considering remaining need, it’s
important to note that student loans are, to
some extent, discretionary; students have the
option of declining loans in favor of
working. Therefore, unmet need may appear
greater for those students who choose to
forgo loans. Figure 12, however, shows
remaining need before student loans were
taken into consideration by income quintile
at each school type. It indicates that after all
gift aid, work-study assistance, and the EFC
were subtracted from the college cost, unmet
need was lowest across all income quintiles
for community college students. For first
income quintile students across all school
types, remaining need averaged $3,200,
$4,300, and $7,300 respectively, at
community colleges, public universities, and
private institutions.
Public University Dependent Students
$0
$2,000
$4,000
$6,000
$8,000
$10,000
$12,000
$14,000
$16,000
$18,000
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Quintile
Remaining Need
Remaining Need
School
MAP
Pell
EFC
Private Institution Dependent Students
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Quintile
Remaining Need
Remaining Need
School
MAP
Pell
EFC
Community College Dependent Students
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$5,000
$6,000
$7,000
$8,000
$9,000
$10,000
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Quintile
Remaining Need
Remaining Need
School
MAP
Pell
EFC
Figure 11
Remaining Need After Institutional Gift Aid
