Award Letter Decoder

You have the offers. They're written to be hard to compare: "aid packages" that are mostly loans, work-study counted like a discount, four different words for the same fee. Ten minutes here turns every letter into the same four honest numbers.

ROI Calculator Loan Payback Opportunity CostAward Letter

Years to degreeLoan interest rate (%)Prefilled with the 2025-26 federal undergraduate rate; check studentaid.gov for yours

Total cost of attendance (per year)Tuition, fees, housing, food, books: the letter's full sticker line

Grants + scholarships (per year)Free money only. Not loans, not work-study

Work-study (per year)You earn this by working; it never reduces the bill up front

Subsidized federal loans (per year)Government pays interest while you are enrolled

Unsubsidized + other loans (per year)Interest runs from day one, including PLUS and private loans

Total cost of attendance (per year)Tuition, fees, housing, food, books: the letter's full sticker line

Grants + scholarships (per year)Free money only. Not loans, not work-study

Work-study (per year)You earn this by working; it never reduces the bill up front

Subsidized federal loans (per year)Government pays interest while you are enrolled

Unsubsidized + other loans (per year)Interest runs from day one, including PLUS and private loans

Disclaimer: Every figure above is arithmetic on the numbers you typed, using your loan-rate input and simplified assumptions (level annual borrowing, a 10-year standard repayment plan, a rough simple-interest estimate for in-school accrual). Award terms vary by school and year; grants can be one-year only, and rates change. Confirm details with each financial aid office and studentaid.gov. This is not financial advice.

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Award Letter Decoder

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