How can I compare the total cost of an engineering degree at ASU and Virginia Tech?

The most useful comparison is each school’s four-year net cost, calculated from its official cost-of-attendance budget minus grants and scholarships, not the tuition figure on the admission letter. Build the estimate separately for your residency status, since ASU and Virginia Tech both charge substantially different rates for in-state and out-of-state students. Use each university’s Net Price Calculator first, then replace its estimates with your actual aid offer once you receive it.

For ASU, include the tuition and mandatory fees for your specific engineering major and campus, plus housing, meal plan, books, transportation, personal expenses, and health insurance if applicable. ASU’s living costs can differ meaningfully between on-campus housing, Tempe-area off-campus housing, and living at home, so use the option you would realistically choose. Check whether any ASU merit award is renewable for four years and whether renewal requires a minimum GPA, full-time enrollment, or continuous enrollment.

For Virginia Tech, use the cost budget for the College of Engineering and your residency category, then price the particular housing and dining plan you expect to use in Blacksburg. Also account for travel: a student flying or driving long distance to Virginia Tech may have higher recurring break-trip costs than one attending ASU closer to home. Verify whether grants, engineering scholarships, and any tuition-related awards renew annually and whether their value can change after the first year.

Make a four-column spreadsheet for each school: billed costs, living costs, gift aid, and borrowing. Total the expected cost for all four years, and separate loans from scholarships because loans are not discounts. The lower four-year net cost, especially after excluding debt, is the financially clearer option unless a specific program difference is valuable enough to justify the gap.