College True Cost Calculator

The sticker price is just part of the story. See the full 4-year cost including room & board, loan interest, and the income you forgo while in school.

School Type & Tuition

School type

Annual tuition & fees ($)

Annual grants & scholarships ($)

Living & Other Costs

Housing

Room & board ($/yr)

Books & supplies ($/yr)

Transportation ($/yr)

Loans & Career

Annual loan amount ($)

Loan interest rate (%)

Alt. annual income if not in school ($)

Years of study

True Total College Cost

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including opportunity cost & loan interest

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Full Cost Breakdown

Data sources & methodology: Tuition and room & board from College Board Trends in College Pricing 2024–25. Federal loan rates from studentaid.gov (2024–25 academic year). Opportunity cost based on BLS median weekly earnings for workers aged 22–27 without degrees. Results are estimates for informational purposes only — not financial advice. Full disclaimer →

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Data reference (Australia): Student contribution bands $4,500–$16,500 (2024); HECS-HELP indexation cap (lower of CPI/WPI, 2024 reform) · figures as of 2026-06 · Compiled from official public sources via AI-assisted research, current to 2025-26; latest available data, not individually verified - general information, not advice.. See our methodology for how every figure is sourced and dated.

🔒 Calculations run 100% in your browser — we never see your numbers 📊 Built on primary-source data (see references above) 🔄 Reviewed 2026 · methodology · disclaimer

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