How can I compare Stanford and Duke net cost after financial aid?

Compare the actual financial-aid offers, not the published cost of attendance or each college’s net-price calculator. Put Stanford and Duke’s award letters side by side and calculate your family’s annual out-of-pocket cost: billed charges minus grants and scholarships, plus realistic estimates for books, travel, personal expenses, and health insurance if applicable. Treat loans and work-study as ways to cover costs, not as discounts, because they still require repayment or earnings.

Ask each financial-aid office for a line-by-line explanation of any difference. Important questions include whether the award assumes federal student loans, whether work-study is included, how outside scholarships affect institutional grants, what academic or enrollment requirements apply, and how aid may change if a parent’s income, assets, or sibling enrollment changes. If one offer relies on a family contribution your family cannot reasonably make, submit a professional judgment or appeal request with documentation such as reduced income, unusual medical expenses, or a job loss.