It’s actually easier for the Ivy League schools: they have huge endowments to cushion year to year variation, and they have massive international draw so Harvard or Yale can offer many students a great aid package and still come out ahead thanks to the rich international students paying full price for the prestige and the chance to intern with top researchers.
My wife is a high school science teacher and many of her students have been surprised that they were looking at a higher total loan with state schools because so much of the costs have been shifted away from general fund revenue.
