How should I compare the total cost of attending Georgetown versus UConn?

Compare the schools using each college’s official financial-aid offer and a four-year net-cost worksheet, not their published tuition alone. Georgetown’s private-school price is high for every student, but a strong need-based grant can substantially change its actual cost. UConn’s result depends especially on Connecticut residency, campus choice, and whether you can live at home.

Then add realistic Washington, DC expenses that may not appear on the bill, including books, local transportation, health insurance if needed, personal expenses, and trips home. Georgetown can make particular financial sense for a student whose family qualifies for substantial need-based aid and who expects to use DC-based internships, research, or policy and international opportunities during the academic year.

For UConn, use the cost estimate for your exact situation: Connecticut resident or nonresident, Storrs or a regional campus, and on-campus, off-campus, or commuter housing. A Connecticut resident who can commute or live at home may see a much lower housing, food, and travel total than at either residential option.

In both offers, separate grants and scholarships from loans and work-study. Grants reduce the price directly; loans create repayment obligations, while work-study is only earned if you obtain and work a qualifying job. Check whether each grant or scholarship is renewable and whether it changes after the first year.

Build one spreadsheet with four columns for each school: direct billed costs, estimated indirect costs, gift aid, and borrowing. Include annual travel based on your home location and a modest cushion for books and personal expenses. The most useful final comparison is the amount your family must pay or borrow over four years, not the first-year net price alone.