<p>Two offers are on the table:
Both schools only require the fafsa. Why isn't our out of pocket cost the same between the 2 fafsa schools? Our oop cost varies by $4,000. Merit aid does not factor into either of these schools. Also the less generous school is not offering subsidized stafford loans, and the other school is. Why such wide swings with same household infromation? The more generous school has a sticker price that is only $700 more for full COA. I don't understand why the OOP cost to the family would not be equal.</p>
<p>Different schools make up different aid packages. Some fill the full 'gap' between EFC and total cost of college, many only fill 90% or 80% (for example) of that gap. And the % of aid that is grant $ (as opposed to loans or work study) varies from college to college, and from student to student within each college.</p>
<p>Okay, I do know that and in fact the more generous school in this instatnce does meet a higher % of financial need the other school. I just forgot about that, as I was looking at this. I will learn how to evaluate these things eventually. Thanks.</p>