This worksheet is designed to help families compare financial aid offers from different colleges and understand the true cost of attending each school.

While award letters may look different from one college to another, the goal is the same: to see how much you will actually need to pay after grants and scholarships are applied. This worksheet puts each offer into the same format so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison.

As you complete the worksheet, keep the following in mind:

• Grants and scholarships are free money and do not need to be repaid.

• Loans must be repaid and increase the total cost of attending college over time.

• Work-study provides the opportunity to earn money, but it is not guaranteed income upfront.

• The lowest tuition price does not always mean the lowest overall cost.

The most important number to focus on is the net cost after grants and scholarships—this shows what you will be responsible for paying before taking out loans. The worksheet will calculate these costs and highlight the lowest net cost for both commuting and living on campus.

This worksheet reflects estimated costs for one academic year. Be sure to ask each college whether scholarships and grants are renewable and if so, what requirements must be met to keep the scholarship. 

Most importantly, remember that affordability is just one part of choosing the right college. We hope this worksheet helps you feel more confident and informed as you make this important decision.