Use the same time period
Compare one academic year with one academic year. Include tuition, required fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and other expected expenses. Distinguish charges billed by the school from living expenses you pay elsewhere. A four-year scholarship total cannot be subtracted from a one-year cost.
Separate gifts, earnings, and debt
Estimated annual net price = total annual cost minus grants and scholarships for that year. Keep loans and Work-Study separate: loans finance a cost you will repay, and Work-Study is income you must earn. Neither makes the underlying price disappear. Next, plan how you would meet the remaining cost and when bills are due.
Ask what happens next year
Check whether aid renews, for how many years, and under which enrollment or academic conditions. Ask how an outside scholarship might change the offer. Confirm any unclear figures with the financial aid office before making a decision.
Go to the source
Official and program-operated sources consulted for this guide on October 5, 2026. This editorial review is separate from any imported catalog review date. Access limits are noted below.