Compare College Financial Aid Offers Side by Side
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| College | Net cost / year (COA − gift aid) | Still to cover after loans & work | Est. 4-year net cost | Loans if repeated 4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College 1 | Enter the cost of attendance | |||
| College 2 | Enter the cost of attendance | |||
Loans are borrowed money you repay with interest, so they are not subtracted from the net cost. Work-study is earned during the year and is not guaranteed.
Aid-letter jargon, decoded
- Cost of attendance (COA)
- The school's full estimate for a year: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, travel and personal costs. Direct costs are billed by the school; indirect costs are not.
- Gift aid
- Grants and scholarships. You do not repay them.
- Net cost
- Cost of attendance minus gift aid. This is what you must cover with savings, income, loans or work.
- Subsidized loan
- A federal student loan for undergraduates with financial need; the government pays interest while you are in school at least half-time.
- Unsubsidized loan
- A federal loan where interest builds from the day it is paid out, including while you study.
- Parent PLUS loan
- A federal loan your parent borrows in their own name. It is still debt, not aid that reduces the price.
- Work-study
- A chance to earn money from a campus job. It is paid as you work, usually not credited against your bill, and is not guaranteed.
- Expected family contribution / Student Aid Index
- A number from the FAFSA formula used to decide need-based aid. It is not a bill.
- Renewable
- Whether a scholarship continues in later years, and on what conditions (GPA, credits, major).
The 4-year estimate repeats year-one figures with an optional yearly cost increase; it assumes gift aid stays flat, which it may not. Ask each school whether awards renew. Estimate only, not financial advice.