Step 1: Confirm the full cost of attendance
Make sure each letter includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and personal costs. Add any missing items using the school's published estimates.
Step 2: Subtract only gift aid
Subtract grants and scholarships from the cost of attendance. The result is your net price, the clearest number for comparison.
Step 3: Review how you would pay the net price
List work-study, savings, family contributions, and loans separately. Compare how much borrowing each option would require over all years of study.