So where do you find schools that are generous with families who need financial aid? You can start at the College Board's Web site at www.collegeboard.com. You'll find profiles of thousands of schools in the United States and Canada. Type the school's name into the Web site's "College QuickFinder" and you'll discover plenty of statistics on the institution, such as SAT scores, costs and the majors it offers.

To research a school's financial aid practices, click on the "Cost & Financial Aid" heading. This screen will provide you with the price of the institution, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, estimated personal expenses and transportation costs. For a public university, College Board provides the tuition for residents and out-of-state students.

What you want to look for is the figure that indicates what percentage of a student's financial need the school typically meets. Of course the best number is 100 percent, though very few schools can afford to be this big-hearted. If a school meets 100 percent of a student's need, that means that the institution will provide enough money through grants or loans to cover the student's cost beyond what the family can afford.

Of course, Mom and Dad aren't going to uncork champagne if a school awards them only with loans. That's why it's equally important to look at a figure that's under the heading "Financial Aid Distribution." Here's where you'll learn how much of the typical aid package is stuffed with loans versus grants, which are free money. Obviously, you'll want to look at schools where grants are more commonplace.

You'll find the most need-based grant money at private schools, which are trying to remain financially competitive with public schools. Among the most generous are the Ivy League players and other super-elite schools that use their hefty endowments to award aid to needy students. These schools, however, hardly ever hand out merit awards. The vast majority of private schools, however, dispense need-based aid, as well as merit money.

In contrast, state universities, which are often strapped for cash, must focus on keeping their tuition low - so playing Santa Claus can't be part of their mandate. Most middle-class kids who attend public universities will receive only loans. That said, public universities across the country are providing financial enticement to good students outside their states.

What's more, lots of flagship institutions such as the University of Oregon, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, University of Washington and the University of Florida have established honors colleges to appeal to kids who might be tempted to go the private route.

Perhaps the best way to find a perfect academic and financial fit for your child's college years is to treat the quest as a term paper. If you spend enough time on your research, you should be able to find a school with the most welcoming hospitality suite.