Here is the list of questions Mary on behalf of students and their families this week.

Get the College Viability Student & Family updates here.

1. What is a need-based scholarship?
2. What does a Board of Trustees do?
3. How does a college come to the decision that it must merge with another institution?
4. Can an endowment be used to help a struggling college?
5. What is a presidential scholarship?
6. What are some of the IPEDS reports from the College Viability app?
7. What are the 4 best comparisons to use when looking at colleges?
8. What is the College Viability Manifesto?

Here is a brief AI summary of the podcast.

The podcast discusses college finances and decisions. Key points include:

• Different types of financial aid: need-based (FAFSA-based), merit-based (academic or extracurricular achievements), loans (federal and parent), and work-study.
• Scholarships are often discounts rather than direct funds.
• Importance of considering college financial health: enrollment trends, graduation rates, endowments, and tuition revenue can indicate a college's stability.
• The role of college boards and their fiduciary responsibility.
• The impact of college closures and the increasing need for mergers.
• The College Viability Manifesto emphasizes the importance of college education, graduation, and considering the financial health of colleges before enrollment.