Free Scholarship Calculator
Use this Scholarship Calculator to estimate college cost after scholarships and grants, keep loans and work-study separate, and project your funding gap for one to four academic years.
Calculate College Cost After Scholarships
Enter annual college costs, scholarships and grants, renewal periods, and other resources. The calculator separates gift aid from money that must be earned or repaid.
Annual Cost of Attendance
Use costs for the same academic year, including direct school charges and reasonable education-related living expenses.
Scholarships and Grants
Add gift aid that normally does not need to be repaid. Keep loans and work-study out of this section.
Other Planned Resources
These resources may help cover net price, but they are not subtracted when calculating net price itself.
Your Scholarship Calculator Results
Estimated annual and multi-year costs will appear here.
Year-by-Year Projection
| Year | Cost | Gift Aid | Net Price | Family / Savings | Work-Study | Loans | Gap |
|---|
What Is a Scholarship Calculator?
A Scholarship Calculator estimates how much college may cost after scholarships and grants are applied. It starts with cost of attendance, subtracts gift aid, and keeps loans and work-study separate so borrowed or earned money is not presented as a discount.
Use estimates while researching colleges, then replace them with the figures in each school's official financial aid offer.
Cost of attendance − scholarships − grants = estimated net priceEstimated net price − family resources − expected work-study − accepted loans = funding gapCalculator methodology
Review formulas, assumptions, projections, input handling, rounding, testing, and privacy.
Read Calculator MethodologyHow to Use the Scholarship Calculator
Enter annual costs
Add tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation, and other costs.
Add gift aid
Enter scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, and other awards that normally do not require repayment.
Check renewal
Use the number of years shown in each award's terms.
Review the gap
Compare net price with savings, work-study, and loans you are considering.
What to Include in Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance is broader than tuition. Use the same academic period for every input and include direct school charges plus realistic indirect expenses.
Tuition and required fees
Include published tuition, mandatory fees, program fees, and required enrollment charges.
Housing and food
Use the school's estimate or a realistic off-campus budget for rent, utilities, groceries, and meals.
Books and supplies
Include required books, course materials, lab supplies, equipment, and technology.
Transportation and personal costs
Estimate commuting, trips home, insurance, phone service, and other attendance-related expenses.
Scholarships, Grants, Work-Study, and Loans Are Different
| Funding Type | How It Works | Included in Net Price? |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship | Gift aid based on merit, need, activity, employer support, or other criteria | Yes |
| Grant | Gift aid that normally does not require repayment | Yes |
| Federal Work-Study | Eligibility to earn wages through an approved job | No |
| Student or Parent Loan | Borrowed money that must be repaid, usually with interest | No |
Financial aid offers may group all four together. Separate gift aid from money that must be earned or repaid when comparing affordability.
Check Whether a Scholarship Is Renewable
A large first-year award can make a college look affordable even when part of the package does not continue. Check the maximum renewal period, annual amount, enrollment requirements, GPA rules, and credit-completion conditions.
- Enter one year for a one-time scholarship.
- Do not assume an award automatically rises with tuition.
- Check whether outside scholarships change institutional grants or other aid.
- Use the projection table to identify the year an award ends.
How to Compare College Financial Aid Offers
A larger scholarship does not automatically mean a lower college cost. Compare schools using the same cost categories and planning assumptions.
- Start with full cost of attendance, not tuition alone.
- Separate scholarships and grants from loans and work-study.
- Check whether every award is renewable.
- Estimate total borrowing across all years.
- Use each college's official net price calculator before applying and its aid offer after admission.
Scholarships May Have Tax Considerations
Scholarship tax treatment can depend on the award, degree status, and how funds are used. Amounts used for qualified tuition, required fees, and required course materials may be treated differently from money used for housing, food, travel, optional equipment, or services.
This Scholarship Calculator does not estimate taxes. Review current IRS guidance and obtain professional advice when needed.
Continue Planning Your College Costs
Scholarship Calculator FAQs
Compare the Full Cost, Not Just the Scholarship
Use the result to identify estimated net price, expected borrowing, and the remaining funding gap before accepting an aid offer.
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