Comparing Financial Aid Awards
Comparing your financial aid offers can be complicated, especially if your awards vary in the type and amount of aid given. Use the Compare Your Aid Awards tool to get a side-by-side comparison of your aid awards.
After you've used the tool, print out the results.
Type of Aid
Look at the "% of Award that is Gift Aid" and "% of Award that is Loan" figures. This information tells you about the quality of your award.
The higher the proportion of Gift Aid (grants or scholarships) to Loan (money that has to be paid back), the better the award. Get an explanation of your financial aid award.
Family Share of Costs
Look at the "Family Share of Costs" figure. This is the amount of money your family is expected to contribute.
If you don't think you can afford the family share for a college you are interested in attending, contact the financial aid office to explain your concern and to discuss your options. If you receive a revised award, enter the new data into the tool.
Review Each Aid Offer Carefully
The college that gives you the most aid may not have the best overall offer. Your aid amount may be higher because the costs are higher, because some costs are not included (such as room and board) or because the award is mostly loan-based.
Remember also that the college with the best financial aid offer may not be the best one for you. Choosing a college involves selecting a college that’s a good fit, based on your goals.
