Scholarship Calculator
Find your net college cost after aid.
Results update as you type.
How it works
The sticker price of college is rarely what students actually pay, because scholarships and grants reduce it, and this calculator finds your net cost. You enter the total cost of attendance and the scholarships and grants you receive, and it returns your net cost and the percentage of the cost covered by aid. Scholarships and grants are gift aid — money you do not have to repay — so subtracting them from the total gives what you must cover through savings, income, family contributions, or loans. This net figure is far more useful than the published sticker price for comparing schools, since a pricier college that offers generous aid can end up cheaper than a lower-priced one with little aid. When comparing offers, focus on net cost, not the headline tuition. Note that this calculator counts only gift aid; loans are not aid in the same sense because they must be repaid with interest, so do not subtract loans to find your true cost. Also watch whether scholarships are renewable each year and what GPA or conditions they require, since a one-year award changes the multi-year picture. Understanding your net cost helps you choose an affordable school and plan how to cover the remainder. Enter your total cost, scholarships, and grants to find the net cost.
Net cost = total cost − scholarships − grants
Net cost is the total college cost minus scholarships and grants, which are gift aid you do not repay. The percentage covered is the total aid divided by the total cost. Net cost is what you actually pay out of pocket or must cover with savings, work, or loans.
Source:Financial aid basics
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter total college cost and scholarships.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust grants if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Net cost after aid updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate net college cost?
Subtract your scholarships and grants from the total cost of attendance. If college costs $20,000 and you receive $8,000 in scholarships and $2,000 in grants, your net cost is $10,000, with 50 percent covered by aid. Net cost is what you actually pay, making it the key figure for comparing schools.
What is the difference between scholarships and loans?
Scholarships and grants are gift aid that you never repay, so they directly reduce your cost. Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest, so they are not true aid and should not be subtracted when finding net cost. This calculator counts only gift aid; treat loans separately as a way to cover the net cost.
Why compare net cost instead of sticker price?
The published sticker price rarely reflects what students pay, because aid varies enormously between schools. A high-priced college with generous scholarships can cost less than a cheaper school offering little aid. Comparing net cost — the price after gift aid — gives an accurate, apples-to-apples picture of affordability when deciding between colleges.
Are scholarships renewable each year?
It depends on the award. Some scholarships are one-time, while others renew annually if you maintain conditions like a minimum GPA or full-time enrollment. Since college takes several years, a renewable scholarship affects your total cost far more than a one-year award. Always check the renewal terms and requirements before relying on a scholarship for future years.
Does net cost include living expenses?
It depends on what total cost you enter. If you use the full cost of attendance — tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and personal expenses — then net cost reflects everything after aid. If you enter only tuition and fees, net cost covers just those. For an accurate picture, use the complete cost of attendance as the total.