<p>^^ True, but the point was about comparing four years of guaranteed housing with having to look off-campus after a number of years. For a low EFC student without much of any credit, it might not be as easy or cheap as one might think. The same could be said about UT-Austin (as another example.) I am not sure how it works at Johns Hopkins or Wharton, but having to leave the campus for housing might not be a picnic. </p>
<p>All of that is to highlight that it is important to look well beyond the basic numbers, and see what is included in the COA and who is responsible for the slew of small payments that can rather fast.</p>