I don't know if it is that things have changed recently, but I did see that schools were handing out free money (at least MIT did when I went there). I got sizable debt-free aid + small (4k/year) loans and I couldn't be more grateful. I know many friends that got much more aid, including monthly stipends to pay for food and other expenses.

It does seem that this is the exception rather than the rule, so I don't usually bring this up. You explicitly mentioned MIT though...