Should I choose Arizona State or George Washington if I’m comparing scholarships?

Compare the scholarships by your actual four-year net cost, not by the headline award amount. Between Arizona State and George Washington, the difference often comes down to whether GW’s scholarship still leaves you with a much higher yearly bill because of tuition and living costs in Washington, DC. ASU is often easier to justify financially if the remaining cost is much lower, while GW can make sense if the scholarship brings it close enough that its location, internships, and academic fit matter to you.

ASU tends to fit the student who wants a strong value play, more financial flexibility, and less pressure from debt after graduation. If your ASU package leaves you with lower loans, lower parent cost, or enough room to afford study abroad, honors housing, or unpaid opportunities, that matters more than the prestige of a larger-looking scholarship elsewhere. ASU can be especially compelling if you are still exploring majors, want a large university with many academic options, or care about keeping costs predictable.

GW fits the student who will clearly use what DC offers and whose scholarship meaningfully offsets the price. If you are interested in politics, international affairs, public policy, nonprofits, media, or internships during the school year, GW’s setting can be a real advantage because students are plugged into the city while classes are in session. But that advantage is only worth paying for if the remaining gap is manageable without stressful debt.

The practical way to compare is to line up tuition, housing, meals, fees, travel, health insurance, and personal expenses for each school, then subtract grants and scholarships. After that, separate renewable scholarships from one-time awards and check the GPA or credit requirements to keep them. I would also pay close attention to whether either package includes loans or work-study, since those are not the same as gift aid.

A useful test is this: if GW costs substantially more each year, ask whether the opportunities you specifically plan to pursue there are worth that premium in dollars, not just in theory. If ASU leaves you in a much safer financial position, that is often the smarter choice unless GW is directly aligned with a very clear academic and career path.