Is MIT or Notre Dame more affordable after financial aid?

Both schools use institutional financial-aid formulas, so their published tuition figures are not the numbers to compare. For a student who needs substantial aid, the actual offer, including grants and loans, matters far more than the sticker price.

Start with each school’s net price calculator using the same tax-year income, assets, household size, number of siblings in college, and any special circumstances. Record the estimated total cost of attendance, then subtract only grants and scholarships. Keep federal work-study separate: it is an opportunity to earn wages during the year, not money automatically credited like a grant.

When offers arrive, compare four items side by side: total billed costs for tuition, housing, food, and fees; institutional and federal grants; required or suggested student and parent loans; and costs outside the bill, such as travel, health insurance, books, and personal expenses. Also check whether an award is renewable on the same terms and whether either school expects a larger contribution after the first year.

The final decision should rest on the two official aid letters, with an appeal based on documented changes in income or unusual expenses if either estimate does not reflect your family’s current circumstances.