College funding plan
College Affordability Calculator
Use this College Affordability Calculator to test whether gift aid, savings, annual contributions, and a personal borrowing limit cover projected college costs.
Calculator
Test a college affordability plan
Compare projected costs with gift aid, non-debt resources, and your own borrowing limit.
Year-by-year affordability
| Year | College cost | Net price | Non-debt resources | Borrowing | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $36,900 | $24,400 | $13,000 | $5,500 | $5,900 |
| Year 2 | $38,007 | $25,507 | $13,000 | $5,500 | $7,007 |
| Year 3 | $39,147 | $26,647 | $13,000 | $5,500 | $8,147 |
| Year 4 | $40,322 | $27,822 | $13,000 | $5,500 | $9,322 |
About This College Affordability Calculator
College affordability depends on net price and the resources available to pay it, not sticker price alone. First, the College Affordability Calculator projects the full cost and subtracts grants or scholarships that reduce the price.
Next, it applies savings and annual family or student contributions before using loans up to the limit you choose. As a result, the estimate keeps gift aid, non-debt resources, borrowing, and the remaining gap visible as separate parts of the plan.
How to Use the College Affordability Calculator
Follow these steps for an accurate Affordability Gap result
1Choose the Study Period
Select the currency, years of study, and an annual increase for projected college costs.
2Enter College Cost and Gift Aid
Add the full first-year cost of attendance and annual grants or scholarships that reduce net price.
3Add Non-Debt Resources
Enter current savings plus annual family and student contributions available for college.
4Set a Personal Borrowing Limit
Choose the maximum amount you are willing to borrow each year rather than assuming every gap should become debt.
5Review the Affordability Gap
Compare projected net price, non-debt resources, planned borrowing, and any remaining uncovered amount.
How the College Affordability Calculator Works
Projected Cost
The first-year cost grows by the selected annual rate across the study period.
Net Price
Annual grants and scholarships are subtracted from projected cost.
Available Resources
Savings are spread across the selected years and combined with annual family and student contributions.
Affordability Gap
Borrowing is applied only up to your annual limit; anything still uncovered becomes the gap.
Important College Affordability Notes
- A covered plan can still involve meaningful debt, so review the projected borrowing separately.
- Confirm that grants and scholarships renew and that contribution assumptions are realistic.
- The borrowing limit is a planning preference and does not represent loan approval or eligibility.
- Federal Student Aid recommends comparing net cost, debt, completion, and earnings when choosing a school. See its college comparison guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about calculating GPA at College Affordability Calculator
Still have questions?
For official GPA rules and academic policies, contact the College Affordability Calculator Registrar's Office or your academic advisor.Official resources for checking your estimate
Use these sources to check terms, funding options, and the assumptions behind your estimate.
- Plan your path to graduation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Weigh college costs and borrowing against expected future income.
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