Originally Posted by Austin
Most selective private colleges will not offer merit scholarships, but most public universities do. That was my experience years ago.

In the last few years in Texas this has led to the majority of National Merit and Class Valedictorians going to UT rather than the privates. I know I chose public college over private because of the cost - and after digging into the curriculum, I could see no difference.

The privates will offer "assistance" but much of it still leaves the student with large student loans. Which is nuts unless they will be 1/3 or less of your starting salary.

It's probably North-Carolina specific.

I think Duke's goal is to actually attract some Valedictorian/National Merit students from North Carolina who would otherwise go into the UNC system for peanuts (or free).