Georgetown vs Penn net price: how do I compare total cost after financial aid?

That means the real comparison should be based on each school’s official aid offer, not tuition alone.

Start by lining up the full cost of attendance for each school: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, personal expenses, and travel. Then subtract only grants and scholarships first, because those reduce what your family actually has to pay. After that, separate out loans and work-study, since those help cover cost but are not the same as a price reduction.

A clean way to compare is to make two numbers for each school. First, calculate net direct cost, which is billed costs like tuition, housing, food, and fees minus grants and scholarships. Second, calculate likely total annual family burden, which includes that net direct cost plus realistic travel, health insurance if needed, and personal expenses.

Also check whether either offer includes loans, and how aid may change if your family has unusual circumstances like home equity, business ownership, multiple children in college, or variable income. Georgetown and Penn may treat those details differently, which can meaningfully change the final number.

If you are still pre-decision and do not have final aid letters yet, use each school’s net price calculator and enter the same family information into both.