Net Price Calculator
ESTIMATING
ESTIMATING
NET COLLEGE COSTS
NET COLLEGE COSTS
What Is Net Price?
What Is Net Price?
Your net price is a college’s sticker price for tuition and fees minus the grants, scholarships, and education tax benefits you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it's based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies.
Your net price is a college’s sticker price for tuition and fees minus the grants, scholarships, and education tax benefits you receive. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it's based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies.
What is a College Net Price Calculator (NPC)?
What is a College Net Price Calculator (NPC)?
A college net price calculator is a free online tool that gives you a personalized estimate of net price.
A college net price calculator is a free online tool that gives you a personalized estimate of net price.
Where can I find a NPC?
Where can I find a NPC?
You can find each institution’s NPC on its financial aid website or see the additional links below. Keep in mind that to be eligible for federal grants, loans and work-study programs, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You can find each institution’s NPC on its financial aid website or see the additional links below. Keep in mind that to be eligible for federal grants, loans and work-study programs, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
How do NPCs Work?
How do NPCs Work?
A college’s net price calculator asks you questions about your family’s finances and may also ask you questions about your GPA, test scores, activities, and other things that may qualify you for financial aid. It uses your answers to figure out how much money in grants and scholarships the college is likely to award you. It then subtracts that number from the full cost of attendance to estimate how much the college might really cost you.
A college’s net price calculator asks you questions about your family’s finances and may also ask you questions about your GPA, test scores, activities, and other things that may qualify you for financial aid. It uses your answers to figure out how much money in grants and scholarships the college is likely to award you. It then subtracts that number from the full cost of attendance to estimate how much the college might really cost you.
Many net price calculators also provide information about other kinds of financial aid you might be offered. These include loans and work-study jobs.
Many net price calculators also provide information about other kinds of financial aid you might be offered. These include loans and work-study jobs.
Completing a NPC takes about 20 minutes. Before getting started, gather your most recent tax returns and bank statements. Providing the most accurate information is the best way to get the most accurate net price estimate.
Completing a NPC takes about 20 minutes. Before getting started, gather your most recent tax returns and bank statements. Providing the most accurate information is the best way to get the most accurate net price estimate.
If the schools you want to compare use the College Board’s Net Price Calculator, you can create a College Board account and save your information. Then you can compare the net prices of various schools without having to re-enter your personal and financial information.
If the schools you want to compare use the College Board’s Net Price Calculator, you can create a College Board account and save your information. Then you can compare the net prices of various schools without having to re-enter your personal and financial information.
Why should I use a NPC?
Why should I use a NPC?
It's a more accurate predictor of cost. Don’t let a school’s sticker price — the total cost of tuition, room and board — prevent you from applying. That might not be the amount you’ll actually pay.
It's a more accurate predictor of cost. Don’t let a school’s sticker price — the total cost of tuition, room and board — prevent you from applying. That might not be the amount you’ll actually pay.
For example, say University A costs $50,000 per year and University B costs $35,000. At first glance, University B appears more affordable. But once you’ve completed both schools’ net price calculators, you might find that you qualify for $20,000 in aid from University A and no aid from University B. That brings University A’s net price to $30,000, or $5,000 less than University B’s.
For example, say University A costs $50,000 per year and University B costs $35,000. At first glance, University B appears more affordable. But once you’ve completed both schools’ net price calculators, you might find that you qualify for $20,000 in aid from University A and no aid from University B. That brings University A’s net price to $30,000, or $5,000 less than University B’s.
Should I trust a NPC?
Should I trust a NPC?
All colleges and universities are required to have a NPC but they’re not all standardized and not all completely accurate. Institutions use different information and formulas to calculate net price, and some use out-of-date costs.
All colleges and universities are required to have a NPC but they’re not all standardized and not all completely accurate. Institutions use different information and formulas to calculate net price, and some use out-of-date costs.
NPC's also don’t include talent-based aid, such as scholarships for athletics or fine arts, and may not include merit-based aid. But if an institution has a clear-cut system for determining merit-based aid, such as certain test score or grade point average thresholds, then it might be included, says Keller.
NPC's also don’t include talent-based aid, such as scholarships for athletics or fine arts, and may not include merit-based aid. But if an institution has a clear-cut system for determining merit-based aid, such as certain test score or grade point average thresholds, then it might be included, says Keller.
Finally, NPC's don’t guarantee aid. You’ll have to wait for award letters from the schools at which you or your student is accepted to find out exact amounts.
Finally, NPC's don’t guarantee aid. You’ll have to wait for award letters from the schools at which you or your student is accepted to find out exact amounts.
How to Use a Net Price Calculator (Webpage)
How to Spot a Lousy Net Price Calculator (Webpage article)
LOCATING NET PRICE CALCULATORS
LOCATING NET PRICE CALCULATORS
Additional Net Price Calculator (NPC) resources:
Additional Net Price Calculator (NPC) resources:
CollegeNavigator (Webpage from National Center for Education Statistics)
Net Price Calculator Center (Webpage from U.S. Department of Education)
MyinTuition (Webpage linked to 60 specific schools)
College Board's NPC (Webpage from BigFuture)