123tweedle

I know these are very new but can anyone comment on their experience with their accuracy? Did your fin aid package come close to what the NPC showed?

I don't assume we'll receive the aid shown on the NPC, but I'm wondering how far off they tend to be. My D is a junior so I've been using the NPC's for schools she's interested in to judge their relative generosity. The range can be huge. The difference in EFC between two "meet full need" private schools was $17,000.

happymomof1

"The range can be huge. The difference in EFC between two "meet full need" private schools was $17,000."

No surprise. Every year we see reports here at CC of differences like that once the financial aid packages come out.

The best that you can do, is get your own head straight about the money issue, and then follow that up by making your limits clear to your D. That way when 123tweedle-D is applying next year, she will have some solid safeties on her list that will be affordable without aid.

mom2collegekids

"The range can be huge. The difference in EFC between two "meet full need" private schools was $17,000."




Yes, some have reported huge swings. Don't know if it's because some schools consider home equity or what.

Who knows how accurate the NPCs really are. Some seem rather sketchy suggesting merit scholarships when stats haven't been asked!

In the end, we'll probably find out that certain schools do have rather accurate NPCs (as long as the family doesn't have a complicated situation), and we'll probably find out that some schools' NPCs were wildly optimistic.

It does seem that those that require CSS and the family owns a business or there is a Non custodial parent info req't, may find wildly different actual FA offers.

123tweedle

I hate to sound cynical, but I worry that a "bait-and-switch" approach might be part of the difference. The NPC is set up to be more generous than would actually be the case and when the award comes in April it's a big surprise.

So you've got a kid who's been through the hassle of applying and excited to be accepted and now she has to be told it's not possible because the award is so far off. Of course, that’s why you have to talk to them up front about what you can afford.

I so dislike the mystery of the process. It's like shopping for a car and knowing you can afford the Chevy but being told the Lexus dealer might give you a half-off coupon.

megmno

My feeling is that the calculators that ask for a lot of information may tend to be more accurate than the ones that only ask basic demographic info. After all, the actual awards are based on many factors, not just income and number of people in the household. (NYU's calculator comes to mind as one that has very few questions.)

NewEnglandMother

I ran the NPC for D1 (junior in college) and it is very accurate. I am not self employed, they are not considering the NCP (he was unemployed when she initially applied and they have not considered him since). So this was an "easy" situation. I would appreciate it if others with current college students would run the NPC's and comment on their accuracy. It would be so helpful (my D2 is a senior in HS).

123tweedle

NewEnglandMother -
Would you mind telling us which school your D1 is in?

charlieschm

Bad data is worse than no data at all. I'm amazed some of the price calculators ask such few questions. I don't know how they can do a realistic estimate.

The calculators may have an effect of making more colleges switch to automatic merit scholarships, where they offer $X if you are in the top 5% of your school, and $Y is you have a Sat score over Z, etc.

mom2collegekids

(NYU's calculator comes to mind as one that has very few questions.)


I wouldn't be surprised if many report that the NYU NPC was way off. When I've tried it, it has given me the impression of merit awards even without aksing for stats. if it's doing that with regularity, then that's very misleading since only the top 5% of students get merit...and not for all of its colleges.

perilous

In my opinion, be wary about these thus far (remember this is a new Fall 2011 requirement)...the NPC calculator's although well intentioned can be VERY misleading. the overriding key to all of this is understanding that some schools have and give LOTS of FA and some don't. So far, it appears those that have lots of money have relatively transparent NPC's and those that don't really have/give lots of money don't...

mom2collegekids

I hate to sound cynical, but I worry that a "bait-and-switch" approach might be part of the difference. The NPC is set up to be more generous than would actually be the case and when the award comes in April it's a big surprise.


I don't blame you for feeling cynical. Some of these schools may likely fear that a "too honest" NPC would result in fewer apps. And, some could honestly say that they included merit and such in their NPCs because some kids will get them.

I think some of these NPCs are offering a "best case scenario"....if you have strong stats and we really want you, then your FA pkg may look like this.

However, to suggest merit awards without even asking for stats is going too far. Most schools that give merit only give to the top students, meaning that 75% of so will get no merit.


I would appreciate it if others with current college students would run the NPC's and comment on their accuracy. It would be so helpful

It would be helpful if these students are attending schools that don't meet need and/or the student didn't have top stats. It's going to be interesting to see how the actual FA pkgs for students with just good-to-average stats compare to the NPC estimates.

123tweedle

It would be great to know how accurate the NPC's were now that we're through admission season. Anyone?

hotpinkalicia

Posting with my D's User information. I was very accurate with all of the information I entered into the NPC's, obviously that is important.
Villanova- Actual Net Price $1000 more than NPC.
Boston College- Actual Net Price $3000 more than NPC.
U of Delaware- Actual Net Price $3000 more than NPC.
UVA- Actual Net Price $2000 less than NPC.
UNC- Actual Net Price $2000 less than NPC.
Georgetown- Actual Net Price $2000 less than NPC.

Hope that helps!

Classof2015

Are the net price calculators only available via the college board site? I googled {my school} net price calculator and that's what I saw. It's been down for maintenance all morning.

soxfan99

^Some schools have their own NPC while others use the college board NPC. In my experience it was about probably about a 50/50 split.

Whether they use the college board NPC or their own, they should provide access to it from their site somewhere.