What Will You Actually Pay?
Sticker price is marketing. See what families at your income level really pay at each school — after grants and aid.
How Net Price Works (and Why Sticker Price Is Misleading)
The published tuition at most top universities is not what you'll pay. After need-based grants, merit scholarships, and institutional aid, the real cost — called net price — is often 40-70% lower than the sticker price.
The gap depends almost entirely on family income. At Harvard, families earning under $75K often pay nothing. At a state flagship, in-state students may save $20,000/year vs out-of-state. Our comparator shows net price broken down by five income brackets ($0-30K, $30-48K, $48-75K, $75-110K, $110K+) using College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education.
This is the same data that individual school Net Price Calculators use — but we let you compare up to 5 schools side by side, so you can make an apples-to-apples cost decision instead of running each school's calculator separately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Net Price Comparator
What is net price vs sticker price? +
Sticker price is the published tuition, fees, room and board before any aid. Net price is what you actually pay after subtracting grants, scholarships, and institutional aid. At many top schools, net price is 40-70% less than sticker price for middle-income families.
Why does college cost vary by family income? +
Most colleges use a need-based financial aid model. They calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on income and assets, then fill the gap with grants. Higher-income families get less grant aid, so their net price is closer to sticker price.
Is the net price data accurate? +
Yes. We use College Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education, which is reported directly by colleges and verified through federal auditing. The figures represent averages for students receiving aid in each income bracket.
Can an expensive private college be cheaper than a state school? +
Yes, frequently. Elite private colleges like Harvard, Princeton, and MIT have massive endowments that fund generous aid. For families earning under $75K, these schools can be cheaper than many public universities after aid.
How do I find out my actual net price at a specific school? +
Every college is required by law to have a Net Price Calculator on their website. Our tool gives you a quick comparison using federal averages. For a precise estimate, use the individual school's NPC with your specific financial details.
What costs are included in net price? +
Net price includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, and personal expenses — minus grants and scholarships. It does not subtract loans (because loans must be repaid). It represents the true out-of-pocket annual cost.
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