Net Price Calculator?

Izzie97 · 09-14-2012, 04:30 AM

How accurate is the NPC, really? I just used it for Rutgers and it came to about 13k or so. Can I rely on this amount, at least partially? Have you guys ever been in any situation where there were wide disparities between the estimates and the actual amount? I really have to start managing my expenses soon, seeing as my dad's salary can barely get us through as it is.

Thanks to anyone who can help

amarkov · 09-14-2012, 05:00 AM

Net price calculators are usually fairly accurate; the schools try to make them so, and unless you're in a truly unusual situation it's pretty easy for the school to predict what their awards are going to look like.

However, you of course should not *assume* that the calculator is correct. If you wouldn't be happy attending a community college for 2 years, apply to a variety of schools, including one that you're 99% sure you can both get into and afford.

CTScoutmom · 09-14-2012, 07:58 AM

Not all are correct, though many are pretty accurate. I would not rely on it (and circumstances can change anyway), but use it as a ballpark. If one school is coming out $10,000 more than another, they're going to be less affordable, unless their NPC is really off.

We have recently run the NPC for each school D is considering, and found a few inconsistencies - we ran current situation, one in college, and then ran it again with 2 in college because younger D will have one year of overlap, so we could have a more accurate picture of the 4-year cost. Two schools came back with higher EFC, so we have contacted them to ask why - we're waiting for their responses. We had run the numbers in June, and we did notice differences now that they've updated for the new class. (2 become significantly more expensive, 2 significantly less, but most were still in the same ballpark).

4kidsdad · 09-14-2012, 08:37 AM

Most schools' NPC are very accurate; but they're not "official" financial aid.

The merit scholarships in the NPC estimates often are on the upper limit. If you're late to apply financial aid; some of the FA may not be available, such SEOG, Perkins loans, etc.

BobWallace · 09-14-2012, 10:44 AM

Those who are claiming that most schools have very accurate NPCs - can you please cite the basis for this claim? I have not seen any data that would support any general conclusion about NPC accuracy.

mom2collegekids · 09-14-2012, 10:47 AM

The answer is: it depends.... sorry

No, you can't rely on any estimated amount because some NPCs give "best case" scenarios, or they don't taking into account special circumstances. Also, you may not have put in the right or complete info.

Some are VERY misleading because they'll include merit scholarships without even asking for stats!!!

For those with low EFCs, sometimes the NPCs will indicate FEDERAL grants beyond PELL...which is VERY misleading since those extra grants are not guaranteed. A student last spring was very upset because the NPC indicated that he'd get $9500 in federal grants (5500 Pell and 4000 - likely SEOG), but his actual package only included the 5500. So, his estimate was off by $4000 !!!

I really have to start managing my expenses soon, seeing as my dad's salary can barely get us through as it is.

The above concerns me. If you're expected to pay $13k per year, and your family doesn't have any extra money, then WHERE is the $13k coming from? You can't borrow that, and your aid pkg will ALREADY have full loans in it.

What are your parents saying about how much they'll pay each year?

Are you instate for Rutgers? What are your test scores and GPA?

4kidsdad · 09-14-2012, 11:21 AM

See RIT - Office of Financial Aid - Cost of Attendance Estimates

The estimate and actual were off by $2000. It was because my D did not get the maximum merit scholarships.

latichever · 09-14-2012, 01:47 PM

The NPC calculator for the school my daughter is attending nailed it for her aid package. Other schools, not so much. Purely anecdotal but I agree "depends" is the word. Incidentally, no NPC for either of my college kids overestimated the aid.

spritle · 09-14-2012, 01:54 PM

Does anyone have any experience with using the GI Bill and where those funds fit into NPCs?

4kidsdad · 09-14-2012, 02:14 PM

I don't think most NPC would ask for GI Bill.

mom2collegekids · 09-14-2012, 02:55 PM

Does anyone have any experience with using the GI Bill and where those funds fit into NPCs?

That's just one issue with NPCs...they don't take into acct variables such as....

divorced parents
self-employed or business owners
income that isn't from a "job" (this kind of income takes a bigger "hit" for FA)
etc.

reeinaz · 09-16-2012, 06:34 AM

Some ask if the student is eligible for post 9/11 GI Bill funds and calculate that money into their estimate. I can't remember which ones I came across asked but I ran the numbers saying both yes and no to compare and it seemed that they did somewhat stack that money on top of what they offered when I said no.

jagmeister · 10-18-2012, 10:42 AM

I can only relay my experience with my D's school but they told me GI Bill money would offset any aid dollar for dollar.

cptofthehouse · 10-18-2012, 11:43 AM

NO, in most cases they are NOT accurate. They are based on averages. You can have your head in the icebox and your backside in the oven and be considered comfortable, on average. There might not be one single person in a school that has the average package.

These NPC are new, and are only as good as what is built in them. They are very accurate for those schools that have no merit awards and meet 100% of need with grants. There is no wiggle room for such schools. If a calculator is including merit awards in there and has not asked you for your stats, it's a complete waste, if you are not eligible for a dime of those awards, for example, or even if you are eligible to get an awad, you don't get one. Not everyone gets an awards so to be allocated a portion due to averages is very misleading. The way it can work is that the kids with the high stats get the highest awards and everyone else gets nada. But a NPC can allocate the full amount proportionately.

The same with need. If a school meets, on average 40% of all of the students' collective need figure, that does not mean that if you have need of $50K that you are going to get $20K covered. And even if you do, that could be with Staffords that you might be counting on to meet your EFC, and some work study money when you were counting on earning some of your EFC too. There are in most all schools, students that got 100% of need met even though the average for the school is 40%. There are also kids who also didn't get much met at all. You don't know where you lie in that mix. And you can't even say that if you are an average applicant that you can kinda count on an average award because many schools skew the awards to those who are above average, top applicants leaving dwindling amount to everyone else.

mom2collegekids · 10-18-2012, 12:33 PM

I have tried enough of these NPCs to be very skeptical about some of them. I am always surprised how many include a mention of a possible merit scholarship without asking for stats.

Also, when I input info for a Pell student, there is often a suggestion that add'l fed grants will be given (perhaps SEOG), which should never be suggested because those funds are not assured, AND, if the student doesn't get his FAFSA submitted early enough, those funds are long gone.