College affordability estimate

Net Price Calculator

Use this Net Price Calculator to combine the full cost of attendance and subtract gift aid. Then review your first-year net price and how it may change across multiple years.

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Calculator

Estimate your college net price

Enter published costs and gift aid. Do not include loans or work-study as aid.

%
Annual cost of attendance

Use the school's full published cost, not tuition alone.

USD
USD
USD
USD
USD
Annual gift aid

Include only grants and scholarships that do not need repayment.

USD
USD
USD
USD

Year-by-year net price

YearSticker priceGift aidNet price
Year 1$36,900$12,000$24,900
Year 2$38,007$12,000$26,007
Year 3$39,147$12,000$27,147
Year 4$40,322$12,000$28,322
Total$154,376$48,000$106,376
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About This Net Price Calculator

Tuition is only one part of paying for college. For example, housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses can substantially increase the complete cost of attendance. The Net Price Calculator first combines those expenses to create a clearer sticker-price estimate.

Next, the Net Price Calculator subtracts federal grants, state or provincial grants, institutional aid, and private scholarships. As a result, the estimate separates genuine price reductions from loans or work-study and provides a more realistic starting point for affordability planning.

How to Use the Net Price Calculator

Follow these steps for an accurate Net Price result

1Choose a Currency and Study Period

Select the currency, enter the expected number of study years, and set an annual increase for future college costs.

2Enter the Full Cost of Attendance

Add tuition and fees, housing and meals, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses for the first year.

3Enter Grants and Scholarships

Add federal, state or provincial, institutional, and private gift aid that does not need to be repaid.

4Review the First-Year Net Price

The calculator subtracts annual gift aid from the first-year sticker price and shows how much of the cost the aid covers.

5Check the Multi-Year Projection

Review how increasing costs and fixed annual gift aid affect net price in each later year.

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How the Net Price Calculator Works

Sticker Price

All entered education and living expenses are combined into the first-year cost of attendance.

Gift Aid

Federal, regional, institutional, and private grants or scholarships are added together.

Net Price

Annual gift aid is subtracted from sticker price, with the result never falling below zero.

Multi-Year Estimate

Costs rise by the selected annual rate, while gift aid remains fixed unless you change it.

Important Net Price Notes

  • Do not count loans as aid that reduces net price because borrowed money must be repaid.
  • Do not count work-study as an upfront discount because the award is earned through employment.
  • Confirm whether every grant or scholarship renews and whether academic or enrollment conditions apply.
  • Use the school's official calculator and financial aid office for institution-specific eligibility estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about calculating GPA at Net Price Calculator

The Net Price Calculator adds tuition, housing, books, transportation, and personal expenses to find the sticker price. It then subtracts grants and scholarships that do not need repayment to estimate net price.

Still have questions?

For official GPA rules and academic policies, contact the Net Price Calculator Registrar's Office or your academic advisor.

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