Which calculator should I trust — this or a college’s?

They answer different questions. This one estimates the federal inputs (SAI, Pell) that apply everywhere. A college’s net price calculator estimates your price at that school, including its own aid. Neither replaces the other; together they bracket your real cost.

Does this include merit scholarships?

No — the federal formula is need-based and doesn’t know your GPA or test scores. Merit aid is awarded college by college, and outside scholarships stack on top. Treat this estimate as the floor of your aid picture, not the whole of it.

Is anything I type stored?

No. The entire calculation runs in your browser — the numbers you enter are never sent to a server, stored, or shared. Refresh the page and they’re gone.

Aid tools ›

Financial aid calculator

Most “financial aid calculators” online are lead forms wrapped around stale math. This one runs the actual 2026–27 federal formula, in your browser, and stores nothing. Estimate your Student Aid Index and possible Pell Grant, then see what the number means at real colleges.

This is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Parent finances

Parent income (AGI)Adjusted gross income from the 2024 tax return — the FAFSA uses income from two years before the aid year.Parent untaxed incomeParent federal income tax paidChild support receivedParent cash and savingsParent investmentsDo NOT include retirement accounts or the home you live in — they are not counted.Business or farm valueA family business with 100 or fewer full-time employees, or a farm your family lives on, is not reported for 2026–27 — enter 0 for those.

Student finances

Student income (AGI)Student untaxed incomeStudent federal income tax paidStudent cash and savingsStudent investments

Household

Household sizeFamily members in collegeState

Two kinds of calculators — use both

Federal-formula estimators like this one tell you your Student Aid Index and Pell Grant position — the inputs every college starts from. Net price calculators on individual college websites add that school’s own institutional aid on top. The federal estimate travels with you across every college; the institutional one is different at each. Start here, then check the net price calculator at any school you get serious about.

From formula to actual price

An aid index only becomes useful when it meets a real price. Average net prices — what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, broken out by income band — are public data for thousands of colleges, and they routinely differ from sticker price by tens of thousands. Browse the colleges you’re considering to see how families in your income range have fared there.

Common questions

Which calculator should I trust — this or a college’s?: They answer different questions. This one estimates the federal inputs (SAI, Pell) that apply everywhere. A college’s net price calculator estimates your price at that school, including its own aid. Neither replaces the other; together they bracket your real cost.
Does this include merit scholarships?: No — the federal formula is need-based and doesn’t know your GPA or test scores. Merit aid is awarded college by college, and outside scholarships stack on top. Treat this estimate as the floor of your aid picture, not the whole of it.
Is anything I type stored?: No. The entire calculation runs in your browser — the numbers you enter are never sent to a server, stored, or shared. Refresh the page and they’re gone.

More free aid tools

Parent contribution calculator EFC calculator — the number is now called SAI Student Aid Index (SAI) calculator Pell Grant estimator FAFSA estimator — know your number before you file Full college cost calculator Real net prices at 5,000+ colleges Scholarship categories

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