Tool 02 · College costs

Financial Aid Offer Comparison

Put three award letters side by side and find the number schools rarely highlight: net cost after all aid — and what the loans become once repayment starts.

Instructions: Fill in the information from each school's financial aid offer letter. The spreadsheet will automatically calculate totals and help you compare your options. Focus on the "Net Cost After All Aid" row to see your true out-of-pocket expenses.
Generating PDF...
Category School 1
School 2
School 3
DIRECT COSTS (Billed by School)
Tuition
Fees
Room & Board
INDIRECT COSTS (Estimated Expenses)
Books & Supplies
Transportation
Personal Expenses
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $0 $0 $0
GIFT AID (Does Not Need to be Repaid)
Merit Scholarship 1
Merit Scholarship 2
Federal Pell Grant
State Grant
Need-Based Grant
Other Grants/Scholarships
TOTAL GIFT AID $0 $0 $0
NET PRICE (COA - Gift Aid) $0 $0 $0
SELF-HELP AID (Must be Earned or Repaid)
Work-Study Program
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Parent PLUS Loan (Optional)
Private Loans (Optional)
TOTAL SELF-HELP AID $0 $0 $0
FINAL COMPARISON
NET COST AFTER ALL AID $0 $0 $0
Total Loans You'd Owe $0 $0 $0

Loan Repayment Calculator

Calculate your estimated monthly loan payments after graduation

Loan Details School 1 School 2 School 3
Total 4-Year Loan Amount $ $ $
Interest Rate (%)
Repayment Term (Years)
Estimated Monthly Payment $0 $0 $0
Total Interest Paid $0 $0 $0
Total Amount Repaid $0 $0 $0

Quick Loan Tips:

Key Comparison Points:
To use in Google Sheets:
1. Select all the data in this table (Ctrl+A)
2. Copy it (Ctrl+C)
3. Open Google Sheets and paste (Ctrl+V)
4. The formulas will need to be recreated in Google Sheets for automatic calculations