How can I compare the affordability of Northwestern and Notre Dame?

For a family that needs aid, the meaningful comparison is each school’s net price: the annual cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid. Northwestern and Notre Dame both use institutional financial-aid information in addition to the FAFSA, so their published tuition figures alone will not tell you which is affordable. Run each school’s official net price calculator using the same current income, savings, home-equity, business, and sibling-in-college information before treating either school as financially out of reach.

Once you receive offers, compare the same items side by side: total billed charges, estimated housing and food, travel, books, health insurance if applicable, grants, work-study, and any loans. Separate guaranteed renewable scholarships from one-time awards, and confirm the GPA, enrollment, and application requirements for renewal. Multiply the estimated family contribution by four years, allowing for annual cost increases, rather than comparing only freshman-year cost.

If a parent’s income has fallen, medical expenses have risen, or the FAFSA/CSS Profile reflects an unusual one-time income event, ask each aid office for a professional-judgment review with documentation.