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As I’ve said before, determining college costs is key to making a wise college choice. Comparing college costs should be simple, but it’s not. You have to factor in so many variables: tuition, room and board, books, living expenses, travel expenses, and even miscellaneous costs. Don’t forget, when comparing colleges, to factor in the less obvious costs.
Thankfully, though, parents and students can compare the basic costs and expenses before shelling out the often large application fees. Why go to a college you can’t afford? Why apply to a college only to get accepted and disheartened when you look at the families finances and find out it’s just not possible based on the financial aid award? It just makes sense to take a look at costs before applying using a college comparison tool.
How do you compare costs?
You can make a physical list and visit the college websites and use their net cost calculator. Or you can go to one place and get comparisons of the colleges you are considering–one stop shopping so to speak! That’s why CollegeAbacus.com created the Abacus100, permitting personalized comparisons of the top 100 universities and top 100 colleges, as determined by U.S. News. This service, which costs the same as Harvard’s application fee, is now offered alongside College Abacus’ free net price search tool, which allows comparisons of up to three schools’ costs simultaneously.
Their personalized net price calculations incorporate likely financial aid, cost of living and other considerations absent from tuition. Federal law now requires colleges and universities to post net-price calculators on their websites. Complying with the letter of the law, but defying the spirit, many schools bury their net-price calculators in little-trafficked corners of their sites.
How does Abacus 100 work?
Relying on information directly from over 4,000 schools themselves, College Abacus aims to end the tradition of students and families applying to schools without knowing whether they can afford to attend. College Abacus relies solely on data provided by the schools themselves, permitting students to compare school-created cost estimates with ease.
Interested? Watch the short video and try it out for FREE. Enter up to three schools and see how the program works. You might be surprised at the information gathering process and you also might be surprised at the great colleges which will fit into your budget.
If you like what you see and want to compare up to 100 colleges and universities, College Abacus has provided me with a 20% discount code: COLLEGECASH. Take advantage of this GREAT offer!