How can I compare the out-of-state net cost of Maryland and Ohio State?

Compare the two offers using a four-year, out-of-state net-cost worksheet rather than either school’s published cost of attendance. Start with each university’s official financial-aid award and subtract only grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid; keep loans, work-study, and parent borrowing separate. For both Maryland and Ohio State, use the cost of attendance attached to your own aid portal because housing assignment, meal plan, college/major fees, and insurance choices can change the total.

Create one column for Maryland and one for Ohio State, then list billed costs first: out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees, university housing, meal plan, and university health insurance if you need it. Add realistic non-billed costs separately, including books and course materials, travel home, local transportation, personal spending, and a laptop or required equipment. Ohio State’s estimate may reflect Columbus living costs, while Maryland students may face different travel and local-transit patterns near College Park and the Washington, D.C. area; use your own likely habits rather than treating those estimates as fixed bills.

For each aid offer, identify the exact name and renewal terms of every scholarship. Check whether it is guaranteed for four years, requires a minimum GPA, enrollment level, or campus residency, and whether it can increase or decrease after the first year. Also note whether a scholarship is applied to tuition only or can cover housing and meals. A loan should not be counted as a discount.

Then calculate: total annual expenses minus grants and scholarships equals your annual net cost. Multiply that figure by four, adding a modest cushion for annual tuition, housing, and meal-plan increases. Finally, compare the remaining amount with what your family can pay from savings and current income, not just the first-year payment. If one school leaves a larger gap that would require federal or private loans, include the projected borrowing and interest in the comparison rather than calling the packages equivalent.