Financial Aid Award Letter Worksheet

STEP 1

List the name of each school you want to consider attending, the award deadline date, and the total cost of attending. The award deadline date and total cost of attendance will probably be included in your award letter (though sometimes it might require a phone call or a search on a website). If you have not received an award letter, find the figures in the college catalog for estimating the cost of attendance, or call the school’s financial aid office. Add the direct and indirect expenses, such as tuition, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, course and recreation-related fees, and personal expenses (clothes, laundry, recreation, telephone calls, and medical).

College 1 College 2 College 3 College 4

Name of College

Award Deadline Date

Total Cost of Attendance $ $ $ $

STEP 2

List the financial aid awards each school is offering. Do not forget that gift aid and self-help such as grants, scholarship, and workstudy do not have to be repaid, while all loans must be repaid.

Grants and Scholarships

College $ Pell $ FSEOG $ State $ Other $ Other $

Total Grants & Scholarships $

Work-Study Programs* $

Loans

Subsidized Federal Direct $ Unsubsidized Federal Direct $ Perkins $ PLUS $ Other $ Other $

Total Loans $

Total Financial Aid Award

Grants and Scholarships + Work-Study + Loans = $

STEP 3

Calculate what it will cost you to attend each college. List the name of the school and the total cost of attendance, then subtract the total financial aid award from the total cost of attendance. The figure you get is the net cost—what it will cost you to attend the school.

Total Cost of Attendance $

Minus Total Financial Aid Award $ Equals Net Cost to attend $