💸 What Is Net Price—and Why It Matters More Than Sticker Price

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:

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:

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:

✅ 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.