When families first look at college costs, they usually see the sticker price: the published tuition, room, board, and fees listed on the school's website. For many schools, that number can run $55,000, $65,000, or higher per year.
That number is largely a fiction — or at least, it's not the number you'll actually pay.
What is sticker price?
Sticker price is the full, undiscounted cost of attending before any financial aid is applied. It's the number schools are required to publish, but it represents what almost no one actually pays.
What is net cost?
Net cost is what remains after grants and scholarships — money you don't have to repay — are subtracted from the total cost of attendance. For many students, especially those who qualify for need-based or merit aid, net cost is dramatically lower than sticker price.
According to the College Board, the average published tuition at four-year private nonprofit schools is significantly higher than the average net price students pay, because most students receive some form of grant aid.
Why this distinction matters
A school with a $65,000 sticker price and a $45,000 institutional grant may cost you less than a public school with a $30,000 sticker price and minimal aid. You cannot know without calculating net cost for both.
Where CollegeLens fits in
When you upload your award letter, CollegeLens automatically separates grants and scholarships (which reduce your real cost) from loans and work-study (which don't). The gap calculation you see is based on net cost — not sticker price.
One important caveat
Net cost shown in financial aid estimates still doesn't include your family's personal savings, outside scholarships, or 529 funds — which is why CollegeLens asks for those too. The goal is your true out-of-pocket cost, not just the school's version of it.
Start with net cost. Compare schools on that number. Everything else is secondary.
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