How should I compare a UConn financial aid package to the actual cost I would pay?

To figure out what you would actually pay at UConn, start with UConn’s total cost of attendance, then subtract only gift aid: grants and scholarships. Do not subtract federal loans or work-study when calculating your true net price, because loans must be repaid and work-study is money you may earn over time through a job, not a discount on the bill. For UConn, the cost of attendance usually includes tuition and fees, housing, food, books, personal expenses, and transportation, but your university bill will usually only include direct charges like tuition, fees, and if applicable, room and board.

A simple way to compare the package is this: total cost of attendance minus UConn grants, federal or state grants, and scholarships equals your net price. Then look separately at loans and work-study as ways to help cover that remaining amount. The loans and work-study may help you manage the cost, but they do not reduce what the education actually costs you.

Also check whether you are looking at in-state or out-of-state costs, because UConn’s pricing differs a lot based on residency. If you are living on campus, off campus, or commuting, that also changes the budget. Books, transportation, and personal expenses are estimated costs, so your actual spending there may be lower or higher than UConn’s number.