Comparing what a program really costs
The published tuition is rarely what students pay. Two free tools give you a better estimate before you apply.
Net price calculators
Colleges that take part in federal aid must post a net price calculator on their website. You enter rough income details and it estimates what a student like you might pay after grants. It is an estimate, not an offer, but it often changes which schools look affordable.
What to do
- Run the net price calculator for every school
- Compare the same program on College Scorecard
- Ask how long students actually take to finish
College Scorecard
The Department of Education’s College Scorecard shows average annual cost by income, graduation rates, typical debt and typical earnings after leaving, for most programs in the country. Compare the same program across schools rather than the schools as a whole.
The cheapest program is often the one you finish on time.
Time is a cost
A program that usually takes five years instead of four costs a fifth year of tuition, housing and lost earnings. Look at how long students actually take to finish, and ask whether required classes are offered often enough to graduate on time.
Where this comes from. The official page behind this article is College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education. Rules change each year, so check it before you act.