How should I compare Georgia and Duke financial aid offers to determine which is the better value?

The biggest practical tradeoff is likely UGA’s lower sticker price, especially for Georgia residents, versus Duke’s potential to reduce a much higher private-school cost through need-based grant aid. Compare the amount your family must actually pay, not the total “aid” line: grants and renewable scholarships reduce cost, while work-study and loans do not reduce the bill in the same way.

Start with each school’s annual net cost: tuition, mandatory fees, housing, food, books, transportation, health insurance if applicable, and personal expenses, minus only grants and scholarships. Check whether the UGA offer is based on in-state or out-of-state tuition, since residency can dramatically change the comparison. Include recurring costs specific to your situation, such as travel home, a car in Athens or Durham, or course fees.

Treat work-study as an earnings opportunity rather than guaranteed aid. A work-study allotment requires finding and working an eligible job; it should not be valued identically to a grant. List federal student loans separately, including the amount borrowed over four years, interest, and expected monthly repayment after graduation. Parent PLUS or private loans deserve even more caution because their terms can be less favorable.

Then project all four years. Verify whether each scholarship is guaranteed to renew, whether it requires a particular GPA, enrollment level, major, or campus participation, and whether the grant may change if family income or assets change.

Finally, weigh net cost against the opportunities you would realistically use: your intended major, advising, research, internships, alumni network, and graduation outcomes. If UGA remains meaningfully less expensive after grants, particularly with in-state tuition and manageable living costs, preserving that financial flexibility is often the more valuable choice.