{
  "asOf": "2026-08-27",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0 — attribute EdCost (edcost.com).",
  "source": {
    "label": "Illustrative net-price ranges modeled on public U.S. College Scorecard / IPEDS methodology (average net price after grants/scholarships). Figures are planning estimates, NOT a specific school's bill.",
    "retrieved": "2026-08-27",
    "note": "Net price = published price − grants/scholarships. Always pull the exact number from each school's Net Price Calculator and the College Scorecard before deciding."
  },
  "sectorAverages": [
    { "sector": "Public 4-year, in-state", "stickerPrice": 27000, "avgNetPrice": 16000, "grantsShare": 0.72 },
    { "sector": "Public 4-year, out-of-state", "stickerPrice": 45000, "avgNetPrice": 28000, "grantsShare": 0.66 },
    { "sector": "Private non-profit 4-year", "stickerPrice": 58000, "avgNetPrice": 32000, "grantsShare": 0.83 },
    { "sector": "Public 2-year (community college)", "stickerPrice": 11000, "avgNetPrice": 7000, "grantsShare": 0.78 }
  ],
  "byIncomeBand": [
    { "familyIncome": "<$30k", "avgNetPricePublic": 9000, "avgNetPricePrivate": 16000 },
    { "familyIncome": "$30k–$48k", "avgNetPricePublic": 11000, "avgNetPricePrivate": 19000 },
    { "familyIncome": "$48k–$75k", "avgNetPricePublic": 14000, "avgNetPricePrivate": 23000 },
    { "familyIncome": "$75k–$110k", "avgNetPricePublic": 18000, "avgNetPricePrivate": 28000 },
    { "familyIncome": "$110k+", "avgNetPricePublic": 22000, "avgNetPricePrivate": 34000 }
  ],
  "illustrativeExamples": [
    { "name": "Large public flagship (in-state)", "approxNetPrice": 15500, "note": "Rounded illustrative figure; verify via school NPC." },
    { "name": "Large public flagship (out-of-state)", "approxNetPrice": 30000, "note": "Rounded illustrative figure; verify via school NPC." },
    { "name": "Selective private (high aid)", "approxNetPrice": 21000, "note": "Need-based aid can push net price well below sticker; verify via school NPC." },
    { "name": "Community college (in-state)", "approxNetPrice": 6500, "note": "Often near-free after Pell; verify via school NPC." }
  ],
  "aidStackOrder": [
    "1. Free money first: Pell Grant, state grants, institutional merit scholarships (never repaid).",
    "2. Work-study / saved cash you already have.",
    "3. Federal student loans (subsidized before unsubsidized) — capped, fixed-rate, deferrable.",
    "4. PLUS / private loans LAST — higher cost, fewer protections."
  ],
  "decisionHeuristics": {
    "worthIt": "Compare net price (not sticker) against first-year earnings of the intended career. A rough sanity line: avoid borrowing more than your expected first-year salary for the whole degree where possible.",
    "loanGoNoGo": "Take federal loans up to the subsidized/unsubsidized limits; pause before PLUS/private. If total borrowing approaches or exceeds projected first-year post-grad income, reconsider school/major/cost."
  }
}