How can I compare the net cost of attending Stanford versus Georgia Tech?

Start with each school’s official Net Price Calculator, then compare the actual financial-aid offers line by line once you receive them; for most families, Stanford’s need-based aid can make its net price surprisingly close to, or even below, Georgia Tech’s, especially for out-of-state students. Stanford awards financial aid based on demonstrated need rather than academic merit scholarships, while Georgia Tech may combine need-based aid with institutional or outside merit awards. Your Georgia residency is especially important because it substantially affects Georgia Tech’s tuition and eligibility for state-based programs.

Use the same inputs for both calculators: parent and student income, assets, household size, number of children in college, and any unusual financial circumstances. Treat the calculator results as estimates, not commitments, since each college uses its own aid methodology and may ask for verification documents.

When award letters arrive, build a side-by-side annual budget. Include billed direct costs: tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals. Then add realistic non-billed costs: books, supplies, local transportation, personal expenses, health insurance if needed, and travel home. Stanford’s Bay Area location can make personal and travel expenses different from Atlanta, so do not compare tuition alone.

Separate grants and scholarships, which reduce your cost, from loans and work-study, which do not reduce the bill in the same way. A work-study offer is an opportunity to earn wages through a job, not a discount upfront; federal loans must be repaid.

Finally, compare all four years, not only the first-year total. Ask each financial-aid office whether its grant is expected to remain stable if your family finances stay similar, and submit an appeal with documentation if the calculator or award fails to reflect a major change such as job loss, high medical costs, or reduced income.