Compare the true cost of attendance across colleges and estimate your monthly loan payments.
| College | Annual Cost | Net Annual Cost | 4-Year Total | Est. Loan Needed | Monthly Payment |
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Years to Break Even
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Debt-to-Income Ratio
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Est. Loan Balance
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Years to Break Even
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Debt-to-Income Ratio
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Est. Loan Balance
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Years to Break Even
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Debt-to-Income Ratio
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Est. Loan Balance
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Travel home during breaks, campus parking, and commuting costs add up quickly.
Computers, software subscriptions, and internet access are often overlooked.
Clothing, toiletries, phone plans, and entertainment vary greatly by student.
Medical expenses, health insurance, and dental care may not be included.
The true cost includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and personal expenses, minus any grants, scholarships, and financial aid you receive. Our calculator helps you compare the net cost across multiple schools side by side.
Sticker price is the published cost of attendance. Net price is what you actually pay after subtracting grants and scholarships. Most students pay significantly less than sticker price. Focus on net price when comparing colleges.
A common rule of thumb is to borrow no more than your expected first-year salary after graduation. If your total debt exceeds your expected annual income, you may struggle with monthly payments. Our calculator shows the monthly payment for each school's projected loan burden.
Return on investment (ROI) compares the total cost of your education to the increase in lifetime earnings it provides. A positive ROI means the degree pays for itself over time. Factors include your major, school, career field, and total debt.
Unfortunately, about 40% of college net price calculators use data that is 3-4 years old. Some schools have multiple calculators with projections differing by $40,000 or more. Our calculator lets you input your actual financial aid numbers for a more accurate comparison.
Yes. We do not collect any data. All calculations happen in your browser. No information is sent to our servers or shared with colleges, lenders, or any third parties.