6 Ways To Figure Out What College Really Costs Now

You can find out now what college will really cost by using a Net Price Calculator (NPC). CAUTION – you may be shocked at the actual price that you’d pay versus the sticker price!

1. Most colleges offer an NPC calculator. Start by getting Bradley’s estimated scholarship amount at academic scholarships.

You can either use this NPC calculator just to estimate your scholarship, or you may complete the full calculator to find more aid by providing more of your family info.

2. Don’t let a college “sticker price” shock you. When you see the full price of tuition, room and board, think about the real price you discovered with the net price calculator.

If you enter information on your family size, income, and assets, the calculator will estimate your family’s Net Price, which is the amount you will be responsible for after scholarships, need-based aid, and grants from state and federal government.

3. Net price calculator estimates are not guarantees.

NPC Calculators like Bradley’s Estimator are just tools to help you see if a school may be a good financial fit. But, you will still need to apply for admission and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out exactly what aid you are eligible for. It is usually very close to the estimate.

4. Compare the net price at schools you are interested in to see what the real difference in price is.

After you finish Bradley’s net price calculator, you can download a cost comparison worksheet to help you compare the real price of all the schools you’re considering.

5. College is a four-year investment. Some NPC calculators, like Bradley’s net price calculator, can help you understand how to manage the investment in a Bradley education for your four years of college.

Most financial aid awards that you see are just for your freshmen year. The cost of tuition, room, and board typically increases slightly each year, so you’ll want to think about a four-year cost, not just your freshman year.

6. Use the calculator as a first step to evaluate a school and then talk with someone in admissions or financial aid or schedule a visit to talk about it in person.

The NPC is a first step, but an admission counselor can talk you through the entire financial aid process, from filing the FAFSA, applying for special scholarships, through completing loan counseling.