Subtract grants, scholarships, and other aid from the sticker price to find the true cost families actually pay.
Full cost of attendance for one year (tuition, fees, room, board). Unit: USD.
Need-based or merit grants for the year (no repayment). Unit: USD.
External or institutional scholarships for the year. Unit: USD.
Any other gift aid such as tuition waivers or fellowships. Unit: USD.
Net Price
$27,000.00
Net Price — Monetary amount USD. Represents cash flow, cost, or value; compare across scenarios.
Total Gift Aid
$13,000.00
Total Gift Aid — Monetary amount USD. Represents cash flow, cost, or value; compare across scenarios.
Aid Covers
32.5%
Aid Covers — Percentage %. Above 0 increases with input; compare to benchmarks or goals.
Financed ~/mo (10-yr)
$299.76
Financed ~/mo (10-yr) — Monetary amount USD. Represents cash flow, cost, or value; compare across scenarios.
What this means
Add up all gift aid that does not require repayment, subtract it from the cost of attendance, and the remainder is the net price you need to cover from savings, work, or loans. The optional monthly figure shows roughly what that gap would cost amortized over 10 years at a 6% rate — just an illustration of financing ...
The sticker price of college is rarely what families actually pay. Net price — the real cost — is the sticker price minus gift aid such as grants and scholarships that never has to be repaid. This tool estimates that figure for a single year.
Formula
net price = sticker price − (grants + scholarships + other aid)
Worked examples
FAQ
Should I include work-study in aid?
Work-study is earnings, not a discount — you work to receive it. Keep it out of gift aid and instead count it as income you will use toward the net price.
Is net price the same as what I pay upfront?
No — it is the amount left to cover before any family contribution or loans. Living costs also vary, so compare the full cost-of-attendance number, not just tuition.