Some schools have good sized endowments. Ivy, Patriot, Notre Dame, UVa, etc. Except for Ivy they are scholarship schools, and it is no big secret that if you are need based the financial aid is a better money solution to make it work. I am sure the coaches know what they are doing. Some may go feast or famine and offer four kids a year 70%+. Some like the ACC schools send the message that everyone is a top recruit and gets some money, so it is smaller % for each spot. And at Ivy schools it is just an admissions preference. The poster above made a good point that the only free rides for all are the service academies and its impressive the prep school year is free if needed. I think the initial question was why would a UNC 2017 who is told to be a 2018 to get a spot going to some $50K a year boarding school? Go to UNC and pay own way to have a redshirt year in the program.
