How can I compare the affordability of Northwestern and Cornell beyond their published tuition prices?

Neither Northwestern nor Cornell is automatically the more affordable option; compare their net-price-calculator results using the same parent and student financial information, then compare the actual aid offers line by line. Both institutions say they meet demonstrated financial need for eligible undergraduates, but each calculates need through its own institutional methodology. The meaningful number is your family’s projected out-of-pocket cost, not tuition alone.

Northwestern’s calculator is especially useful for estimating a private-university package, including need-based grant aid and the family contribution it expects.

When offers arrive, separate gift aid—grants and scholarships that do not need repayment—from self-help aid such as federal loans and work-study. Do not count parent loans or private loans as financial aid that makes a college affordable. Check whether grants are renewable for four years, what academic or enrollment conditions apply, and whether either school expects loans in later years even if the first-year package is favorable.

Also compare costs that calculators may estimate differently: health insurance if you cannot waive it, travel home from Evanston versus Ithaca, books and course materials, personal expenses, and housing and dining after the first year. Ask each financial-aid office to review the same documented circumstances, such as a recent income reduction, unusual medical costs, or a sibling’s college enrollment. Using identical documentation makes any appeal and final side-by-side comparison much fairer.