"It would be easy to conclude that in difficult economic times, top public research universities should devote all their financial aid to need-based rather than merit-based programs. Easy, but shortsighted," writes Bruce D. Benson, president of the University of Colorado system in USA Today. "Merit-based aid bolsters crucial research endeavors, raises the academic bar across the board, rewards student achievement and helps us compete with private universities for the best students. [S]queezing merit-based aid hurts an already pinched middle class, where families generally earn too much to qualify for need-based aid but not enough to comfortably pay tuition. Devoting a quarter of our financial aid money to those rewards, and the subsequent benefits a university receives, is a worthy investment."