College Affordability Tools

See the Real Price of College Before You Enroll

Most families only see the “sticker price” of college — not the actual amount they are likely to pay after financial aid, scholarships, and grants. That makes it almost impossible to compare schools fairly or understand what a degree will really cost over four years. Our College Affordability Tools are designed to change that.

Instead of guessing, you can use real data from trusted sources, side-by-side comparisons, and simple visuals to answer questions like:

• “How much does this college actually cost after typical aid?”
• “Which schools in my state offer the best balance of price, graduation rates, and earnings?”
• “Is it worth paying more for a private or out-of-state college for my major?”
• “What will my net price look like if I receive additional scholarships?”

Every tool on this page is free, requires no account, and is built to help you make smarter, more confident decisions about where to apply and where to enroll.

How Our College Affordability Tools Work Together

Think of this page as your “control center” for the cost of college. Each tool answers a different part of the affordability puzzle, but together they give you a complete view of cost, value, and long-term impact.

1. Colleges by Affordability / ROI

This tool lets you scan colleges by state and quickly see which schools offer the strongest mix of affordability and outcomes. For each college, you can review:

• Average net price: What students actually pay on average after grants and scholarships.
• 10-year earnings: Typical earnings after students have been in the workforce for ten years.
• Admission and graduation rates: How selective the school is, and how many students actually finish.
• Median debt and Pell percentage: How much students tend to borrow and how many receive need-based aid.

Use this tool when you’re building or narrowing your college list. It’s especially useful for comparing in-state public options, spotting overpriced choices, and finding schools that offer strong earnings without extreme debt.

2. College Cost Estimator

The College Cost Estimator zooms in on a single school so you can get a clearer picture of what you might pay there. After you select a college, the tool can help you:

• Compare the school’s average net price to typical published tuition and fees.
• See how living costs, books, and other expenses affect your total cost of attendance.
• Roughly estimate how much may be covered by grants, scholarships, and work-study versus savings or loans.

This tool is ideal once you’ve received acceptances or financial aid offers, or when you want a realistic cost estimate before deciding whether to apply.

3. College Comparison Cost

Choosing between two colleges can be stressful — especially when one has the “name” and the other has the better price. The College Comparison Cost tool lets you:

• Select two schools and compare their estimated net prices side by side.
• See differences in cost of attendance, typical debt, and earnings in one view.
• Visualize how much extra you might pay over four years for one option versus another.

Use this tool when you are down to your final two or three schools and want to understand the trade-offs clearly. It’s a simple way to ask, “Is this extra cost really worth it for me and my family?”

Who These Tools Are Built For

Our College Affordability Tools are designed for:

• High school students building a college list or comparing acceptances.
• Parents and caregivers who want to understand the long-term financial impact of each choice.
• Adult and transfer students returning to college and trying to minimize new loans.
• Counselors and advisors who need quick, data-driven visuals to support families.

Whether you’re just starting your search or making a final enrollment decision, these tools are meant to be practical, transparent, and easy to use in real life conversations about money.

Lower the Bill, Not Your Goals

The cost of college should never be a mystery. Before you commit to any school, use the tools on this page to:

• Compare colleges in your state by affordability and long-term earnings.
• Estimate what you’ll really pay after typical aid, not just sticker price.
• Stack scholarships from our Scholarship Database to bring your net cost down even further.

When you’re ready, pair these tools with our guides on FAFSA and loan alternatives so you can borrow less, secure more free money, and protect your financial future while still earning the degree you want.