College Cost & Student Budget Calculator
Estimate the full cost of a degree — tuition, housing, food, books and other costs with yearly increases — minus scholarships, and plan a monthly student budget.
How to use
- 1Enter the yearly tuition, housing, food, books and personal costs.
- 2Enter scholarships and grants, yearly cost increase and years of study.
How it's calculated
Each year's cost = sum of costs × (1 + increase)^(year − 1). Net cost = total − scholarships × years. Monthly budget = (living costs) ÷ 9 months per academic year.
Frequently asked questions
What's the 'cost of attendance'?
Schools' official estimate of tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transport and personal costs — used to calculate financial aid.
How fast does tuition rise?
Published tuition has historically risen 2–5% a year in the US; check your school's history.
Why budget over 9 months?
Most academic years run about nine months. Change it if you pay rent all year.