How much will college cost me?

Students and families shopping around for the best college for their money might be initially turned off by most schools’ high costs of attendance. But most students and families don’t pay a school’s sticker price–in fact, many pay significantly less, or even nothing, for their college educations.

A great way to find out the real cost of a college is to use a net price calculator. A net price calculator is a tool that helps you determine the amount a student pays to attend a college for one year after scholarships and grants have been applied.

All colleges and universities are required to have a net price calculator on their websites. Students can enter information about themselves to find out what students with similar backgrounds paid to attend the institution in the previous year, once applicable financial aid has been applied, and use this information to determine how much the college will end up costing.

Check out the video above for more on the benefits of using a net price calculator, how to determine how much a college will really cost you, and how to use this information to your advantage in the college selection process.