College Financial Aid Concerns for the Not-Technically-Needy

We all know college has a hefty price tag that leaves many families up to their ears in debt. And the recession has parents more strapped for cash than ever, though many are not necessarily needy enough to qualify for financial aid.

Rather than lose smart students to cheaper schools, colleges have increased or redistributed financial aid, both for the needy and the not-so-needy. According to College Board data analyzed by the New York Times, many private colleges in Washington state increased merit-based scholarships from 2007 to 2008.