Which Calculator Is Right for Me?
Figuring out what your education will cost is an important part of planning your enrollment. Below are two tools you can use to get a general estimate. They’re meant as a starting point, not a final answer, and our financial aid team is glad to help you make sense of the results.
Budget Calculator
A tool to help you estimate your overall cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and everyday living expenses. It’s a general planning tool, so we’d encourage you to treat the results as a rough guide rather than an exact figure.
Net Price Calculator
A federally required tool, hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, that gives you a general estimate of what you might pay after grants and scholarships. It does not include loans or work-study, and it isn’t a financial aid offer.
A Few Things to Know
- Both tools provide estimates only. Your actual costs and aid may differ, sometimes significantly.
- Neither requires an account or login, and using them doesn’t affect your financial aid application.
- Your official financial aid offer, issued after you apply and submit a FAFSA, is the source to rely on for actual numbers.
- If your results don’t match your offer, or something looks off, that’s expected — please reach out to us and we’ll work through it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions About These Tools
No. Both calculators provide estimates based on the information you enter and average institutional data. Actual costs and aid awards may differ. Your official financial aid offer, issued after you apply and submit a FAFSA, is the authoritative source for your aid eligibility.
Neither the budget calculator or the Net Price Calculator, both of which are publicly available, require an account.
No. Neither calculator submits information to University of Western States’ financial aid office or affects your application in any way.
Calculators use averages and estimates. Your actual aid offer is based on your specific FAFSA results, enrollment status, program, and available funds. These may differ from the assumptions built into the calculator. If you have questions about your offer, please contact our financial aid office directly.
The Net Price Calculator is designed for students eligible for federal financial aid and may not reflect your situation accurately. The budget calculator is available to all students and may be more useful for international students planning their costs. International students should also review the dedicated resources on our International Student Aid page.
Contact Us
Our advisors are available to answer questions about your costs and your options.