How should I compare the total cost of attending the University of Minnesota and UCLA?

Start with each school’s net price calculator using the same family financial information, then build a four-year spreadsheet from the resulting annual estimate. Do not assume that a published “cost of attendance” is your bill; it includes both direct university charges and estimated personal expenses.

Verify in writing whether any scholarship is guaranteed for four years and what GPA, enrollment, or housing conditions apply. Add winter clothing, local transit or parking, and flights or long-distance travel home if relevant.

For each year, list direct charges separately: tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meal plan, health insurance, and expected course fees. Then add indirect costs: books, laptop replacement, transportation, personal spending, travel home, and off-campus rent after first year. Subtract only aid that is actually offered or highly likely, distinguishing grants and scholarships from loans and work-study. Finally, increase later-year costs modestly for expected tuition and housing changes, and compare the total amount your family would pay or borrow, not just the first-year net price.