Have you started to receive your college acceptances and financial aid offers? That’s amazing. Soon it will be time to decide where you want to go.
One important factor is cost. There’s a lot to think about, but we have a few tools and websites that will make things easier for you.
When comparing college costs, there are three things to consider:
Your cost of attendance. This includes what you pay directly to the college (like tuition) as well as your own costs (like your books and computer).
How much “free money” is available. This includes government money as well as scholarships coming from the college and private donors.
What types of loans you may need. This includes less expensive government loans and more expensive private loans.
College Offer Comparison Tools We Like
Comparing college offers can be confusing, but there’s a lot of help available.
First, we (humbly) suggest that you get started on this website. Our simple overview of the process explains many things you need to know to get started.
For more information, you’ll want to read our latest guide to get the big picture.
Then, do your own research.
There are many online tools to help evaluate and compare your college aid packages. Our student staff took a look at some of the most popular tools out there.
Many were problematic because they heavily promoted student loans or private consulting services. We struck most of them off the list. (Though some of these sites can be useful. We included three of them in our Runners Up section below.)
Then we looked for different types of tools, based on what you may be hoping to get out of your comparison. From that group, we culled five that are worth a look today.
Top Five Tools for Comparing College Offers
1. For students who want answers quickly
The MEFA College Cost Calculator is quick and to the point. There aren’t a lot of frills or questions to answer. If you’re looking for a basic comparison tool, this is for you. We love that it’s maintained by the respected Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority. Students and counselors can feel comfortable knowing that the site is safe, and they won’t have to duck a marketing pitch.
2. For students who want to research everything
First up, watch this webinar presented by Common App and uAspire. It explains how to navigate the application process from start to finish and answers frequently asked questions. Then, use uAspire’s College Cost Calculator to help you compare offers. Its interface is easy to use and there’s an extensive dictionary to explain unfamiliar words and terms. uAspire is a leading nonprofit provider of financial aid services.
3. For students who prefer paper
If you like to do your calculations by hand, the NASFAA worksheet is for you. The worksheet lets you compare three colleges at once and offers space to keep contact information and a list of next steps. And you’re getting help from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the same trade group that assists college financial aid officers. That has to be trustworthy!
4. For students taking the long view
If you like to keep track of every detail and be prepared for anything, then the LevelUp Virginia worksheet is for you. Offered in Google Sheets, Excel, and PDF, this comprehensive worksheet also includes a loan repayment calculator and options to compare cost by school and year.
This is particularly helpful if you’re planning out your bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Your costs will change — and get more expensive — as you pursue your master’s degree.
5. For students who need step-by-step instructions
Off to College offers a series of worksheets and organizational tools for conducting your college search, from exploring options to comparing your aid offers. Their worksheets can support you each step of the way.
Runners Up
Here are three more websites that didn’t make our top five, but they’re certainly worth a look.
College Cost Net Price Calculator: This form takes a while to complete, but once you do it, you’ll get information and guidance that may be more accurate than what other online tools offer. If you have the time, this tool may be worth the effort.
CollegeRaptor: Run by Citizens Bank, CollegeRaptor offers tools to help you assess how much you’ll have to pay and how much debt you’ll take on, by factoring in all forms of available aid, including scholarships and loans.
Road2College: Road2College is a paid service, so if you wish to use anything past the cost comparison tool, you’ll have to pay. But the free stuff is worth checking out. The website offers an interactive worksheet that covers college cost and loan repayment, as well as in-depth analysis of the different scholarships available.
Gil Hatcher is currently working on their master’s degree in media studies at the New School, building upon their sociological work from undergrad at Rutgers University. A proud NJ STARS alumni, Gil hopes to help other students find all of the financial aid their states have to offer.