College Cost Estimator
Add up tuition, housing, fees, and books, then project the full cost of a degree across your years to graduation, with tuition inflation built in.
The sticker price of a whole degree
Families tend to look at one year’s tuition and multiply in their heads, which misses two things: the non-tuition costs that make up a large share of the bill, and the way those costs rise every year. Building the full four- or five-year total, inflation included, turns a vague worry into a concrete number you can plan a budget and a savings goal around.
Once you have the sticker total, use the Net Price Estimator to see what you would pay after aid, and the 529 Savings Goal to work out what to set aside each month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in the cost of attendance?
The full cost of a year is more than tuition. Schools publish a 'cost of attendance' that adds housing and meals, mandatory fees, and books and supplies, and often an allowance for transportation and personal expenses. This tool takes tuition, housing, fees, and books so you can build the number yourself; adding the smaller allowances gives an even more complete picture. The point is to compare the whole yearly cost, not just the tuition line schools lead with.
How does tuition inflation change the total?
College costs have historically risen faster than general inflation, so a degree that starts at one price usually costs more in later years. The estimator grows your base year cost by the inflation rate you set, compounding it each year: year two costs the base times one plus the rate, year three compounds again, and so on. Even a modest 4–5% annual increase adds up noticeably over four or five years, which is why the final-year cost is higher than the first.
Should I use the sticker price or the net price?
This tool estimates the sticker cost — the published price before financial aid. Most families pay less than sticker once grants and scholarships are applied. To see what you would actually pay, run the sticker figure here, then use the Net Price Estimator to subtract gift aid. Comparing schools on net price rather than sticker price often changes which one is truly cheaper.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is an educational projection built from the numbers and inflation rate you enter. Real tuition increases vary by school and year, and housing, fees, and books change too. Treat the total as a planning estimate to compare options and set a savings goal, not a bill, and confirm published costs with each school before you decide.
Estimates only, based on the figures and inflation rate you enter. Not financial advice — confirm published costs with each school.