How should I compare financial aid offers from UIUC and Ohio State?

Compare UIUC and Ohio State by separating guaranteed gift aid from financing. Your most useful number is each school’s published cost of attendance minus renewable grants and scholarships; do not subtract federal loans or work-study as though they were discounts. Also compare the billed cost—tuition and mandatory fees plus housing and meal plan—because travel, books, and personal expenses are estimates rather than charges from the university.

Treat loans as an amount you may borrow, not aid that lowers the price. A package with a larger loan line may cover more of the bill initially but leaves you with more debt. Treat work-study as access to a part-time job: it can help with weekly expenses, but earnings arrive over time and depend on finding and working a qualifying position.

Include health insurance if you will not be covered by a family plan, annual travel between home and campus, and any major-specific fees. If one offer leaves a substantially larger gap because of a changed financial circumstance or a clearly stronger competing offer, a concise financial-aid appeal with documentation can be appropriate.