I think that’s tuition, and doesn’t include (expensive) room and board and other COA.
I found the NPC were all over the place, even at the same school! For one daughter I kept putting info into the NPC and getting different results. Some would include state aid, other time not, sometimes a few school grants, other times not.
This could happen when the school is updating from one year to the next, but that isn’t the only explanation.
I think you have to look at the breakdown of the NPC. Does it explain what costs and scholarships/aid are included in the NPC results? COL - merit scholarship - need aid less department scholarships - Pell grants?