The Sticker Price Lie: What College Really Costs (and How to Find Out)

You finally sit down to look at college websites and there it is. Whaaaat?!  A tuition number so high it feels like someone added an extra zero to be funny. $78,000 a year? Is that real? And is there any chance your family will actually pay that?

Here’s the truth: the sticker price on a college website is not what most families end up paying. But figuring out what you might pay? That’s where it gets tricky and where the Net Price Calculator becomes your secret weapon.

Every college that receives federal aid is legally required to provide a Net Price Calculator. This tool gives you a custom estimate of what your family might actually owe, based on your income, household size, and even test scores. It cuts through the noise and shows you whether a school is a good financial fit before your student falls in love with the quad and the cute coffee shop across the street.

So before you let your kid fall in the  dream school trap based on vibes and TikToks, take 10 minutes to run the numbers. It might be the most valuable math problem you ever do.

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