HOW MERIT AID IS CHANGING THE COLLEGE RECRUITING GAME

The University of Alabama now spends over $137 million on merit aid each year for students with no eligibility for need based financial aid, up from under $10 million back in 2006. This translates to $60 million more than it gives in grant aid to people who demonstrate financial need. Enrollment is up by more than half since that time, and fewer than half of the undergraduate students are from the state. That is a big cherry on top for the university.