How can I compare Emory and Northeastern to determine which is more affordable after financial aid?

Compare the two official financial-aid offers line by line using each school’s net direct cost, not the headline cost of attendance. Start with tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and food, then subtract only grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid. Keep federal loans, private loans, parent loans, and work-study separate, since they are ways to cover a bill rather than reductions in its price.

For each school, make the same simple calculation: billed direct costs minus gift aid equals the amount you must cover through savings, current income, loans, or a payment plan. Then add realistic indirect expenses, including books, travel, personal costs, health insurance if required, and off-campus housing differences. Northeastern’s Boston location can make housing and everyday expenses materially different from Emory’s Atlanta setting, especially if an aid offer assumes a particular housing arrangement.

Check whether every grant or scholarship renews for four years and what conditions apply. Confirm required enrollment status, GPA standards, whether need-based grants can change after a family income change, and whether a merit award is fixed or tied to tuition. Also ask each financial-aid office whether the offer is final, whether outside scholarships reduce grants or loans first, and whether the package is likely to change after the first year.

Treat work-study as optional earnings, not a guaranteed credit on your bill. You must obtain an eligible job and work the hours to earn it, so it should not be subtracted from your upfront amount due. Federal Direct Loans are often more manageable than private borrowing, but they still belong in your four-year debt comparison.

A useful final comparison has four figures for Emory and Northeastern: annual gift aid, annual net price before loans and work-study, expected annual borrowing, and estimated four-year total borrowing.