How should I compare merit aid offers from UIUC and the University of Alabama?

Compare the offers by their guaranteed four-year net cost, not by the scholarship headline. But a stronger UIUC program can be worth paying more only if the remaining annual gap is manageable without burdensome borrowing.

For each school, make a four-year worksheet using the same categories: tuition and mandatory fees, housing and food, estimated books and supplies, transportation, health insurance if applicable, and personal expenses. Subtract only grants and scholarships that are actually listed in your award letter. Separate federal work-study and loans from gift aid: work-study requires you to earn the money, and loans increase the eventual cost rather than reduce it.

Check whether each scholarship is renewable for four years, whether its amount is fixed, and its conditions. Confirm what happens after a missed requirement and whether the scholarship covers summer terms. At UIUC, verify whether any award is college- or major-specific and whether your program’s tuition rate differs from the campus estimate.

Also compare likely cost increases. A fixed-dollar scholarship loses purchasing power if tuition, housing, and fees rise, whereas a scholarship tied to tuition may protect you more. Include realistic travel costs, particularly if one campus would require frequent flights or long-distance trips.

Finally, price the academic difference concretely. Look at access to your intended major, required-course availability, faculty and research opportunities, internships, career placement in your field, and the likelihood of graduating on time.