Cost Calculator: what is free, what is Pro
All of it is free. Here is what it covers and what its numbers mean.
Updated July 11, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answer: the Cost Calculator is free. We think cost transparency should not cost anything, so there is no Pro gate on it.
What free includes
Net-cost estimates by household income bracket for 1,900+ colleges, built on College Scorecard data. You can run it on any school, inside the app from the Cost calculator page or on the public version without an account.
Common questions
How accurate are the estimates? They reflect what students in your income bracket have actually paid at each school, which makes them a solid planning number, but individual aid offers vary with your family's specifics. Does out-of-state cost more? Often yes, and the estimates account for the difference where the data supports it. What should you do with the numbers? Use them to keep affordable options on your list early, then compare real award letters in the spring.