College prices are not always what they seem

The price tag is not the price.

Many students rule out colleges as soon as they see the listed cost. RealPrice helps you look past the sticker price and estimate what schools may actually cost for families in your income range.

Example college
Illustrative example, not one specific school. For a lower-income family, the real cost can look very different.
Listed sticker price
What the college publishes
$78,000
Estimated net price
After grants and aid, based on income bracket
$9,200
Hidden affordability gap $68,800/year

Sticker price can scare students away too early.

College websites often show one big price. But federal data reports average net price by income bracket, which can reveal schools that are much more affordable than they first appear.

Students see the highest number first.

The listed cost appears before grants and scholarships are counted.

Aid changes the real price.

For many lower-income students, financial aid can dramatically lower yearly cost.

Good options get missed.

RealPrice surfaces schools worth considering before sticker price scares students away.

Built for students making real choices

A college can look impossible before aid is counted.

A lot of students never apply to schools that might have helped them financially, because the first number they see is the full sticker price.

RealPrice is designed to slow that moment down. Instead of only showing the biggest published cost, it puts the estimated price for your income range next to the sticker price so the difference is hard to miss.

The goal is not to make college look cheap. It is to help students avoid ruling out schools before they see the real affordability data.

The sticker shock problem

The same school can look completely different when you compare the listed price with the average net price for students in a similar income range.

What students see

The published cost looks impossible.

$78,000

That number can include tuition, housing, food, fees, books, and other costs before grants are counted.

↓
RealPrice puts aid-adjusted cost in the center. Not a guarantee, but a clearer starting point than sticker price alone.
Federal data
No account needed
Free for students
What data may show

The estimated net price can be far lower.

$9,200

Average net price data includes grants and scholarships for students in a similar family income bracket.

The useful question is not "What does it list for?"

It is "What might it cost for someone like me?" These sample cards show the kind of contrast your results page is designed to make obvious.

Private nonprofit example

Northeast campus
Sticker price$76,500
Estimated net price$8,900
Gap revealed$67,600

Public university example

In-state option
Sticker price$31,200
Estimated net price$6,400
Gap revealed$24,800

Liberal arts example

Small campus
Sticker price$69,800
Estimated net price$11,300
Gap revealed$58,500

Start with the path that matches the question.

RealPrice gives students a few simple paths: get personalized matches, search one college, or eventually compare schools side by side.

1

Find my matches

Enter your ZIP code, income bracket, and preferences. RealPrice ranks schools that may fit your situation.

2

Search a college

Look up one school and see sticker price beside estimated net price.

3

Compare colleges

Put schools side by side on real price, outcomes, Pell share, and distance.

Find colleges that may actually fit your budget.

Tell RealPrice a little about your location, income bracket, and preferences. The ranking looks for affordable net prices, meaningful aid gaps, and stronger student outcomes.

Your Information

Required
Preferences - all optional
Type to search majors. Select one from the list, or leave blank for no preference.
Finding schools that match your situation...

Your matches

Important: Prices are federal average net prices for students in your income bracket, not official financial aid offers. Your actual cost may differ, especially because aid depends on your full family finances. Use each school's official net price calculator or financial aid office to confirm your estimate. Out-of-state public school prices include an estimated tuition adjustment.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Search one college.

Look up one school and compare listed price with estimated net prices by income bracket.

School Search

Type to search schools. Select one from the list.
Looking up this school...

Compare two colleges side by side.

Pick any two schools and see how they stack up on real price, outcomes, and fit — for your income bracket specifically.

Choose two schools to compare

Type to search majors. Select one or leave blank.
Loading comparison...

Built to close the information gap.

RealPrice is a free tool that shows low-income and first-generation students what college would actually cost them, not what it costs to print on a brochure. Here's exactly how it works, what data it uses, and what its limitations are.

What RealPrice does

RealPrice helps low-income and first-generation college students discover schools that look expensive on the surface but are genuinely affordable for their family's income level. The tool uses federal data to show the average net price, the amount a student actually pays after grants and aid, broken down by income bracket, for colleges in the United States.

The core insight: a school with a $70,000 sticker price might cost a family earning under $30,000 as little as $3,000-$8,000 per year after federal, state, and institutional aid. Most students never apply to these schools because the listed price scares them off before they get that far. RealPrice puts both numbers side by side so the gap is impossible to miss.

RealPrice is completely free to use and requires no account or login. It does not store names, emails, ZIP codes, school searches, or other personally identifying information. It may store anonymous usage counts, an anonymous browser session ID, and optional feedback to improve the tool. It is not affiliated with any college, university, or commercial organization.

Where the data comes from

All pricing and outcome data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, a federal dataset updated annually that colleges are required to report to as a condition of participating in federal financial aid programs. The data used in RealPrice was last updated in the 2023-24 academic year reporting cycle.

Specifically, RealPrice uses two College Scorecard datasets:

  • Institution-level data - average net price broken down by five income brackets ($0-$30,000, $30,001-$48,000, $48,001-$75,000, $75,001-$110,000, and over $110,000), alongside admission rates, graduation rates, retention rates, Pell Grant recipient share, and enrollment figures.
  • Field-of-study data - median student loan debt and median earnings one year after graduation, broken down by specific major and credential level at each institution. This data only covers students who received federal Title IV grants or loans.

ZIP code data for location-based features comes from SimpleMaps (MIT license).

All data is publicly available and can be independently verified at collegescorecard.ed.gov.

How the recommendation algorithm works

The "Find Matches" feature uses a multi-factor weighted scoring algorithm to identify the best-fit schools for each student's situation. Here is exactly how it works, step by step:

Step 1 - Eligibility filters (applied before any scoring)

Before any school is scored, it must pass a set of baseline eligibility checks. Schools are excluded if they:

  • Are flagged by the Department of Education for financial responsibility concerns.
  • Are private institutions with no reported admission rate, which are often narrow-purpose specialty programs.
  • Have fewer than 100 undergraduate students enrolled.
  • Offer fewer than 5 distinct academic programs, which screens out many single-purpose institutions.
  • Are primarily certificate-granting rather than degree-granting.

These filters exist specifically to protect the population this tool serves. Low-income and first-generation students are often the students most harmed by institutions with weak outcomes, poor transparency, or aggressive recruiting.

Step 2 - Student preference filters

After eligibility filters, remaining schools are filtered by the student's stated preferences: location (in-state only or open to anywhere), school type (public, private, or no preference), school level (4-year, 2-year, or no preference), acceptance rate range (reach, target, or accessible), intended major (if specified), and maximum yearly cost. All preference filters are optional. Leaving a preference blank means no restriction is applied for that dimension.

Step 3 - Weighted scoring

Every school that passes the filters above receives a total score from 0 to 1, computed from seven factors. Each factor is converted to a percentile rank within the filtered candidate pool before being combined, so scores reflect how a school compares to the realistic alternatives for that specific student, not to all schools nationally.

The seven factors and their weights are:

  • Price gap (26%) - the difference between the school's listed sticker price and the student's estimated net price for their income bracket. Higher weight reflects this tool's core thesis: schools that appear unaffordable but are not should surface first.
  • Absolute price (26%) - the student's estimated net price in raw dollar terms. This is weighted equally with gap to ensure genuinely low-cost schools remain competitive even when they have a small gap because they were never expensive-looking to begin with.
  • Major outcome strength (15%) - median earnings one year after graduation relative to median student debt, for the student's specific major at this institution. This is only applied when a major is specified and reliable data exists; otherwise it is treated as neutral.
  • Graduation and retention rates (15%) - a quality floor that protects against recommending low-cost schools where students do not actually finish. Both graduation and retention rate must be reported for this factor to apply; a school missing either is treated as neutral rather than penalized.
  • Pell student share (15%) - the percentage of students receiving federal Pell Grants. This is used as a proxy for whether a school genuinely serves low-income students in practice, not just on paper.
  • Distance (2%) - proximity to the student's ZIP code. This receives minor weight because the primary location choice happens through the in-state/out-of-state preference.
  • Campus size fit (1%) - closeness to the student's preferred campus size. This is intentionally very low weight so size preference acts as a soft tiebreaker, not a hard gate.
The weight structure reflects RealPrice's core purpose: cost-related factors (gap plus absolute price) account for 52% of the total score.

Step 4 - Results

The top 3 scoring schools are returned. Each result card explains in plain English which specific factors drove that school's ranking, so students and counselors understand why a school appeared rather than having to trust a black box.

Limitations and important caveats

RealPrice is designed to be honest about what it can and cannot tell you. The following limitations are important for counselors and students to understand before acting on results:

  • Net prices are averages, not individual estimates. The price shown for each income bracket is the average net price paid by students in that bracket who attended that institution. It is not a personalized financial aid estimate.
  • Data lags by 1-2 years. College Scorecard data reflects the most recently completed reporting cycle. A school's aid policies, tuition rates, or financial situation may have changed since the data was collected.
  • Major outcome data covers Title IV recipients only. The earnings and debt figures shown for specific majors only cover students who received federal financial aid. They may not represent students who did not take out federal loans.
  • Out-of-state public school prices are estimated. For public schools outside the student's home state, RealPrice adjusts the net price by adding the difference between published in-state and out-of-state tuition. This is an approximation.
  • The algorithm does not predict admission odds. The acceptance rate range filter narrows results to schools in a general selectivity range, but RealPrice makes no prediction about whether a specific student will be admitted.
  • Some schools may be missing data. When a school does not report data for a specific income bracket or outcome metric, that factor is treated as neutral in scoring rather than being penalized. Some values may also be suppressed by the Department of Education for privacy reasons.
For a more precise financial estimate, school result cards include a link to that institution's official net price calculator, a tool that uses actual family financial details rather than income bracket averages.

Who built this and why

RealPrice was built because low-income and first-generation students often rule out colleges based on sticker prices before they have any idea what the school would actually cost them. Existing tools can require creating accounts, charge for access, or serve a general audience rather than students who most need clear cost information.

RealPrice is free, requires no account, stores no personal identifying data, and is not funded by or affiliated with any college, university, or commercial organization. It was built on publicly available federal data and is intended to remain free permanently.

The tool was built using U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, Python, and FastAPI on the backend, with a plain HTML/CSS/JavaScript frontend. The full methodology described on this page reflects the actual algorithm in production. There is no difference between what is described here and how the tool actually works.

RealPrice was created by Aiden Lu, a junior at Cary Academy in North Carolina. If you have questions about the methodology, have found an error in the data, or would like to share feedback after using this tool with students, please reach out directly at aiden_lu@caryacademy.org.

This tool was built as a student project with no commercial funding, no venture backing, and no data monetization. It is free to use and will remain free permanently.

For counselors and educators

RealPrice is designed to complement, not replace, the work of school counselors, college advisors, and college-access professionals. A few things worth knowing if you are considering recommending it to students:

  • No account or login required. Students can use the tool immediately without creating an account, providing an email address, or downloading anything.
  • No personal data is stored. RealPrice does not retain names, emails, ZIP codes, exact major searches, selected school names, or school search histories. It may store anonymous usage counts, an anonymous browser session ID, broad filter choices such as income bracket, and optional feedback comments so the tool can be improved.
  • Results are shareable. Find Matches can generate a shareable URL that captures the student's filter settings. Students can share their results directly with a counselor, parent, or trusted adult for discussion.
  • The algorithm is transparent. The full methodology is described on this page. Every result card explains in plain English why that specific school appeared.
  • It works best as a starting point. RealPrice is designed to expand a student's consideration set, not make the final decision for them. It works best when followed by a deeper conversation about fit, campus culture, support services, and the student's academic profile.
  • The net price calculator link is critical. School result cards link to each institution's official net price calculator. Counselors should encourage students to run their actual family financial details through the official calculator before drawing conclusions from RealPrice's averages.

Feedback from counselors who use this tool with students is genuinely valuable and can be incorporated into future improvements.

RealPrice uses only publicly available federal data. All figures can be independently verified at collegescorecard.ed.gov. The source code and methodology are available upon request.

Data sources and attribution

RealPrice is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, SimpleMaps, Brandfetch, or any college or university whose data appears in this tool.

Ready to see what college would actually cost?

Three tools. One goal.

RealPrice helps you discover what college would actually cost your family, not the number on the brochure. Here's exactly how to use each tool and what to do with what you find.

Where should I start?

If you're just getting started, use Find Matches first. It asks a few quick questions about your situation and shows you colleges that may be affordable for your family's income, including ones that look expensive before financial aid is counted.

Once you have a few schools in mind, use Search to look up any specific college and see what it would cost across every income bracket. Then use Compare to put two schools side by side and see which one may be the better fit for your situation.

You don't need an account. RealPrice doesn't require a login, doesn't save your personal information, and is completely free. Just start using it.
1
Find Matches
Discover colleges that may be affordable for your income bracket

This is the main tool. You tell RealPrice a few things about your situation, and it shows you up to 3 colleges that match, ranked by how affordable they actually are for your family's income, not how affordable they look at first.

How to use it:

1
Enter your ZIP code. This helps calculate distance from schools. It is not stored or shared.
2
Select your family income bracket. This is the most important field because it determines which net price data is used for your results. Pick the range that best matches your household income.
3
Set your preferences. These are optional: location, selectivity, school type, school level, campus size, and max yearly cost. Leave anything as no preference if you are not sure.
4
Type an intended major if you have one. Select one from the dropdown list. Leave it blank if you are undecided.
5
Click "Find my matches." Results appear below the form.

How to read your results:

OK
The teal sentence below the school name explains why that school appeared and which factors made it rank highly for you.
OK
The strikethrough price is the listed sticker price. The large teal number is your estimated net price after aid for your income bracket. The gap shows how different those numbers are.
OK
The state comparison line tells you whether this school is above or below the average net price for schools in that state.
OK
These prices are estimates based on federal averages, not personalized guarantees. Use the "Get a precise estimate" link on each card to run the school's official net price calculator.
Tip: If you get "no schools matched," try loosening one filter at a time. The message will usually tell you which filter caused the empty result.
2
Search
Look up any college and see cost by income bracket

Already have a school in mind? Search lets you look up any college and see what it costs for every income bracket in one table.

How to use it:

1
Type the school name. A dropdown will appear as you type. Select the school from the list. If you do not see it, try a shorter name.
2
Click "Look up this school." The school's pricing card appears below.

How to read the results:

OK
The price table shows the sticker price, estimated net price, and gap for each of the five income brackets.
OK
N/A means the federal data does not have enough information for that bracket at this school. It does not mean the school gives no aid.
OK
"Open net price calculator" links to the school's official calculator for a more precise estimate based on your family details.
Tip: Hover over the small info marks next to stats like admission rate and Pell student share if you are not sure what they mean.
3
Compare
Put two colleges side by side

Trying to decide between two schools? Compare puts them side by side so you can see real price, graduation rate, Pell student share, major outcomes, and more in one place.

How to use it:

1
Select your income bracket. This determines which net price is shown for each school.
2
Optionally select an intended major. If data is available, the comparison will include earnings and debt data for that major.
3
Search for School A and School B. Type each school name and select it from the dropdown list.
4
Click "Compare schools." The comparison card appears below.

How to read the results:

OK
The teal box at the top summarizes the biggest differences in plain English.
OK
Cells highlighted in teal with a checkmark show which school is stronger on that metric, such as lower price or higher graduation rate.
Tip: Use Compare as a conversation starter with a counselor, parent, or trusted adult. It should help you ask better questions, not make the final decision by itself.
?
What the stats mean
A quick guide to the numbers shown on school cards

RealPrice shows a few statistics to help you look beyond price. You do not need to memorize them, but knowing what each one means can help you ask better questions about a school.

1
Admission rate is the percentage of applicants who are offered admission. A lower admission rate usually means the school is more selective. If a school says "Not reported," it may be open enrollment or missing federal admissions data.
2
Graduation rate shows the share of full-time students who graduate within the federal reporting window, usually six years for a four-year college. Higher can be a good sign that students are getting through and earning degrees.
3
Retention rate shows the share of first-year students who return the next year. A higher retention rate can be a sign that students are finding support, stability, and a reason to stay.
4
Pell student share is the percentage of students receiving federal Pell Grants, which are usually awarded to lower-income students. A higher Pell share can suggest that a school has more experience serving students from lower-income families.
5
Undergrad enrollment is the number of undergraduate students at the school. This helps you understand size: smaller schools may feel more personal, while larger schools may offer more programs and activities.
6
Major outcomes show earnings and debt data for a specific major when federal data is available. These numbers are useful, but they are averages and may not represent every student in that major.
Tip: No single stat tells the whole story. A school can be affordable but have weak outcomes, or have strong outcomes but be a reach. Use the stats together, then talk through the results with a counselor or trusted adult.

What to do after you find results

RealPrice shows federal averages. That is a useful starting point, not a final answer. Here's what to do once you have schools in mind:

->
Run each school's official net price calculator. This gives a personalized estimate based on your actual family finances.
->
Share your results with your counselor. On the Find Matches page, the "Share results" button copies a link to your current search settings. When someone opens that link, RealPrice can restore the same ZIP code, income bracket, and preferences and rerun the search. The link is useful for counselors or family members because they can see the same kind of results you saw without needing your account information.
->
Complete the FAFSA. RealPrice can show what a school might cost, but you need the FAFSA at studentaid.gov to unlock federal financial aid.
->
Do not make decisions based only on cost. Price matters, but so do graduation rate, campus support, academic fit, safety, and distance from home.
Ready to see your real price?