Scholarship & Financial Aid Calculator
Estimate net tuition cost after scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans — plus your monthly loan payment after graduation.
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How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your annual tuition and fees.
- 2
Add each type of aid: merit scholarships, need-based grants, work-study, and other grants.
- 3
Enter how much in student loans you plan to take per year.
- 4
See your net tuition, four-year cost, total loan debt, and estimated monthly payment after graduation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between grants and loans?
Grants and scholarships are free money — they do not have to be repaid. Student loans must be repaid with interest after graduation. When comparing financial aid packages, always separate "free money" (grants and scholarships) from loans, which add to your debt burden.
Is work-study considered free money?
Work-study is an award that lets you earn money through part-time jobs (often on campus) to pay tuition. It is not given to you directly — you must work for it. However, it counts as income that can offset tuition costs without adding debt.
What is a reasonable student loan payment?
A commonly used guideline is that your monthly student loan payment should not exceed 10% of your expected monthly gross income after graduation. If you expect to earn $50,000/year ($4,167/month), keep your total loan payment below $417/month.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Calculator
How to compare financial aid packages
When colleges send financial aid letters, offers can look similar on the surface but differ dramatically in their composition. An offer with $20,000 in grants is far better than one with $20,000 in loans. This calculator separates free money from loans so you can compare the real net cost of each institution.
The true cost of student loans
Borrowing $40,000 at 6% over 10 years means you repay about $53,000 in total — $13,000 in interest. Over a 20-year repayment plan, the same loan costs $68,600 in total. Understanding the full repayment picture before borrowing is essential to making a sound educational investment decision.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →