Federal Student Aid Estimator

Estimate Your College Costs

The Federal Student Aid Estimator helps prospective students estimate the cost of attending college after financial aid. By answering a few questions about your household and educational plans, you'll receive an estimate of the federal financial aid you may qualify for and your expected college costs.

While the estimate is not a financial aid offer, it can help you plan ahead and better understand your potential educational expenses.

Why Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator?

The estimator can help you:

Estimate your eligibility for federal student aid.
Estimate your expected cost of attending college after grants and scholarships.
Compare potential college costs while exploring your options.
Prepare for financial planning before applying for aid.

Before You Begin

The estimator takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. You may be asked to provide information such as:

Student age and date of birth
Marital status
Household size
Number of family members attending college
Household income
State of residency
Living arrangements while attending college

Important Information

Please keep the following in mind:

The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate only and is not an application for financial aid.
Results are based on the information you provide.
Your official financial aid eligibility will be determined after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), if applicable.
Actual financial aid awards are determined by the Financial Aid Office.