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As you near your high school graduation, you must make some decisions that will shape your adult life. For many, college is a great place to further your education and gain the skills that you will need for your career. However, between tuition costs, housing, books, school supplies, and food, college can be an expensive endeavor. In this lesson, you will explore college-related costs and how to get help with paying them.

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Everyone is different, so everyone's needs for a college or university will be different. So, in order to choose the right path for you, you must first understand certain criteria that will be important factors in your decision to pursue higher education.

It will be essential to have a conversation with your family about any savings or plans that they may have in place as you make your choice. Some families may have set aside some money to help you invest in your degree, while others were not able to. No matter the case, understanding how much your family might contribute will affect your college options.

In fact, institutions will consider your personal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) when considering your for eligibility to receive financial aid. Your EFC is calculated by college financial aid staff to determine what you might need in order to attend the school. You can estimate this through this calculator to get a possible idea of what you MIGHT be eligible to receive as financial aid.

However, remember that your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college.

Next, we will explore how to understand the costs of attending college.

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Once you understand your financial situation, then you can explore your college options. As you consider your options, there are many costs associated with attending college that you will need to consider, including hidden unexpected costs like purchasing textbooks. For many, attending a community college or local university helps to save families money on housing and food costs.

A helpful tool that may help you factor in all of these costs is by using a college's net price calculator. Many colleges and universities offer these to help you understand what it may cost to attend their school. Net price is a college's price for tuition and fees before you receive any financial aid. The net price you pay for a college is unique to you, as it considers your personal situation and financial aid policies that the college may have.

When calculating your net price, a college will consider a variety of information including your GPA and standardized test scores among other things that may qualify you for financial aid. The answers you give will calculate how much money in grants or scholarships the college is likely to award you and subtracts that from the full cost of attendance. This is an estimate to help you understand what college might really cost you.

Here you will search for your college of interest's net price calculator. Once you find the college's calculator, make sure you answer every question to the best of your ability to ensure the most accurate result. Remember, these are only estimates. The actual price may be higher or lower than this estimate.

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Search for Schools' Calculator

What does Net Price mean?

Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.

What is a Net Price Calculator?

Net price calculators are available on a college's or university's website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.

How do other students describe net price?

Net Price Calculator - Typography Video

Justin, Remo, Bilyana Net Price Calculator Video

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College Affordability and Transparency Explanation Form

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Search for Schools' Calculator Net Price is the amount that a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants the student receives. Scholarships and grants are forms of financial aid that a student does not have to pay back.

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Before you start your research on financial aid options, consider first a few factors that will affect the cost of attending college. Taking steps to reduce costs can help reduce your potential for debt.

- College Type: Public schools and community colleges are typically cheaper than attending private universities while still offering quality educational opportunities. It is helpful to note that your choice in college doesn't have to be permanent. Some people decide to pursue a community college to start to reduce costs, then transfer college class credits to another institution at a later time to complete the degree elsewhere.
- Location: Attending a college or university that is outside of your home state often comes with an extra cost. This will also influence housing, food, and transportation costs as well. If you live on campus, you will need to pay for room and board fees. If you live off-campus, you will need to pay for expenses such as rent, utilities, commuting, and food. And if you live far away from home, you will need to consider travel costs to return home for visits or holiday breaks.
- Time: The longer you attend a college, the more it will likely cost. It is helpful to have a solid plan in place early so as not to waste too much time switching degree programs. Ensuring that you are able to invest the appropriate amount of time into your studies will be critical to making sure you graduate in less time.

For more tips on how to reduce college costs, explore this link to help you save money. Now, let's explore some options for how to get financial aid help.

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College can be expensive but there are ways you can reduce the cost of your post-secondary education. Begin by making sure you have explored financial aid opportunities that can help you pay for college. Other ideas include:

Reducing the number of classes you take at a four-year college. Talk with a school counselor about taking your general education classes at a community college during your junior or senior year of high school.

Taking and passing Advanced Placement exams in high school is a real money saver. Students with advanced placement are able to bypass certain classes because they proved they have already mastered the content.

Enrolling in a California Community College and then transferring to a four-year college is a great way to lower college costs.

Participating in a Career Technical Program formally linked to a college. These programs put you on the career path more quickly than the traditional four-year program.

Investigating armed services programs such as ROTC or the military academies.

Joining AmeriCorps, Job Corps, California Conservation Corps, and gaining valuable skills and experience through national, state, and local community services while simultaneously earning an education stipend.

Research the cost of college with resources in the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center.

Living expenses are a large part of college costs and living at home and commuting to college is a sure way to save money.

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Tips to Reduce Postsecondary Education Costs

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College can be expensive but there are ways you can reduce the cost of your post-secondary education. Begin by making sure you have explored financial aid opportunities that can help you pay for college. Other ideas include: Reducing the number of classes you take at a four-year college.

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"Federal and state governments, as well as private sources, offer help. Some are based on need or specific interest, others on academic performance. About 70% of the student aid awarded each year comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

1. Grants and Scholarships do not need to be repaid:

Grants are awarded on the basis of need.

Scholarships are awarded on academic merit, need, and/or other criteria.

2. Loans and Work-study must be repaid or earned:

Student Loans are special loans available to students and their parents.

There are both Federal subsidized loans which require evidence of financial need and unsubsidized loans which are not needs-based. These loans are explained in detail on the U.S. Department of Education Student Aid website.

Work may include work-study or part-time employment.

Scholarships may be available through your parents’ employers, religious groups, private clubs, lodges, businesses, foundations, unions, community groups, private individuals, and various organizations. Scholarships can be based on such things as academic merit, test scores, competitive essay, field of study, special talent (for example, music), ethnicity, leadership ability, community service activities, or athletics.

Get started on your research at Financial Aid Resources."

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A complex set of factors determines financial aid awards and it's never too early to explore financial aid opportunities while you're still in high school. Getting the best financial aid package takes effort and research. Some financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis and most financial aid is based on economic need, not academic performance.

Before starting your research on financial aid options, consider some of the factors that influence the cost of a college:

Type of School: Public schools are usually less costly than private ones, but attending an out-of-state public school may be just as expensive as a private school.

Time: The longer you stay, the more it costs. Advanced placement classes or community college classes while you're in high school might help ensure you graduate in four years or less.

Location: This affects the cost of housing, food, and transportation. On-campus housing provides room and board; off-campus living involves expenses for rent, utilities, commuting, and food. If you are living away from home, remember to figure in the travel costs for your trips home.

Two Types of Financial Aid

Federal and state governments, as well as private sources, offer help. Some are based on need or specific interest, others on academic performance. About 70% of the student aid awarded each year comes from the U.S. Department of Education.

Grants and Scholarships do not need to be repaid:

Grants are awarded on the basis of need.

Scholarships are awarded on academic merit, need, and/or other criteria.

Loans and Work-study must be repaid or earned:

Student Loans are special loans available to students and their parents.

There are both Federal subsidized loans which require evidence of financial need and unsubsidized loans which are not needs-based. These loans are explained in detail on the U.S. Department of Education Student Aid website.

Work may include work-study or part-time employment.

Scholarships may be available through your parents' employers, religious groups, private clubs, lodges, businesses, foundations, unions, community groups, private individuals, and various organizations. Scholarships can be based on such things as academic merit, test scores, competitive essay, field of study, special talent (for example, music), ethnicity, leadership ability, community service activities, or athletics.

Get started on your research at Financial Aid Resources.

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A complex set of factors determines financial aid awards and it's never too early to explore financial aid opportunities while you're still in high school. Getting the best financial aid package takes effort and research. Some financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis and most financial aid is based on economic need, not academic performance.

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Find and Compare Colleges that Match Your Needs and Interests

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Find and Compare Colleges that Match Your Needs and Interests

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Not sure what colleges might be a good fit for you? Explore college options that might fit what you need out of a school. Use filters to search for schools that fit both your academic and personal needs, including where you want to attend school and what qualities are most important to you in a college.
When you find colleges that meet your interests, use the provided tool to compare them.

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Explore the 2024 Best Colleges in America ranking. Compare the Top 100 colleges and universities in the U.S.