Calculate net cost after scholarships, grants and expected contribution.
Only gift aid genuinely reduces cost, since loans merely defer it. Unmet need is what determines how much borrowing an offer actually requires, which is the figure worth comparing between institutions. A larger headline aid package can leave more unmet need than a smaller one at a cheaper institution, which is why net cost rather than aid amount is the right comparison.
Scholarship/Grant
Unmet need = cost of attendance − gift aid − expected contributions
Unmet need = cost of attendance − gift aid − expected contributions Only gift aid genuinely reduces cost, since loans merely defer it. Unmet need is what determines how much borrowing an offer actually requires, which is the figure worth comparing between institutions.
A larger headline aid package can leave more unmet need than a smaller one at a cheaper institution, which is why net cost rather than aid amount is the right comparison.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Total cost of attendance, Scholarships awarded, Grants awarded, Expected family contribution, Student earnings contribution. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.