The college with the biggest scholarship isn’t always the cheapest. Let that sink in.
🎯 Why This Matters
When your kid gets a $25,000 scholarship offer, it feels like a win. But then another school offers $18,000… and somehow that one costs less out of pocket. What’s going on?
The answer is something colleges don’t advertise clearly: net price.
🏷️ Sticker Price vs. Net Price
Let’s break it down in plain terms:
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Sticker Price | The full cost of attendance — tuition, housing, meals, fees |
| Aid/Scholarships | The money your kid doesn’t have to repay |
| Net Price | What you’re actually on the hook for, after aid is subtracted |
So if a school costs $40,000 but gives your kid $20,000 in scholarships… you’re looking at a net price of $20,000. That’s the number that matters.
😮 A Quick Story
When my daughter got her first offer, I saw a huge scholarship listed. I was ready to celebrate.
But when we added in the fees, housing, and meal plan — and subtracted what was actually stackable — we realized another school that offered less had a lower net price.
That was my wake-up call.
🧮 Use the Right Tools
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when comparing multiple colleges. That’s why I built this:
Enter total cost of attendance, subtract all forms of aid (merit, grants, stackables), and see the real net price side-by-side.
Don’t just compare scholarship totals. Compare what you’ll actually owe.
🔗 Want the Full Breakdown?
If you’re ready to go deeper into how EFC, SAI, and net price work — including federal and state aid factors — read this next:
It’s one of the most important pages I’ve ever written for this site.
✅ Final Word
Big numbers don’t always mean a better deal. Colleges are great at making offers look generous—but your job is to do the math that matters.
Don’t fall for the sticker. Compare the net.