Financial Aid Net Cost Calculator
Compare the net price of college after grants and scholarships versus the long-term cost of student loans. See how much free aid saves you in interest.
Your Aid Picture
Default COA uses College Board’s 2024-25 average total budget for an in-state public four-year school ($29,910). Default loan rate is the federal undergraduate Direct Loan rate for 2025-26 (6.39%).
Sources, assumptions & disclaimer
- Net price definition: U.S. Department of Education / College Board — net price = cost of attendance − grant aid; each school’s official Net Price Calculator is at collegecost.ed.gov.
- Federal loan rates: Federal Student Aid / U.S. Department of Education — 2025-26 undergraduate Direct Loan fixed rate 6.39%. studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates
- Cost data: College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2024 (average total budget, in-state public four-year, 2024-25: $29,910).
Disclaimer: This calculator is for general planning only and is not financial aid or tax advice. Your official net price and aid offer come from the school and FAFSA. Federal loan availability, limits, and rates change by year—confirm current figures on StudentAid.gov.
Related college & loan tools
- • Estimate your Student Aid Index with EdCost’s EFC/SAI calculator.
- • Compare loan APRs and rates with RateFig’s APR calculator.
How It Works
Net price = cost of attendance − grants − scholarships (and other gift aid). Any remaining gap can be filled with savings, income, or loans. For the loan portion we apply the standard amortization formula to show the monthly payment, total interest, and total repaid.
This illustrates the core trade-off: every $1 of grant aid is $1 you do not borrow and do not pay interest on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is net price?▼
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships you do not repay. It is the amount your family is expected to cover through savings, income, and/or loans. The official net price is produced by each school’s Net Price Calculator (collegecost.ed.gov).
Why compare grants to loans?▼
Grants and scholarships are free money—they reduce your net price with no interest. Loans must be repaid with interest, raising the true cost. This tool shows the interest your free aid helps you avoid.
Which loan rate should I enter?▼
Enter the fixed rate for your loan type and first-disbursement year. Federal Direct undergraduate loans for 2025-26 are 6.39% (U.S. Department of Education). Private loan rates vary by credit and lender.
Does net price include loans?▼
No. Net price excludes loans by definition. Loans fill the gap but add repayment cost, which this calculator estimates separately.