{
    "name": "Scholarship Gap Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/scholarship-gap-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/scholarship-gap-calculator.md",
    "category": "Education",
    "description": "Compare a year’s cost of attendance with scholarships, grants, family help, savings and work to find the funding gap and what it means per month.",
    "summary": "The funding gap is the cost of attendance minus every resource you can count on. Knowing it early tells you how much more aid, work or borrowing you need.",
    "also_called": [
        "Funding gap calculator",
        "Unmet need calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "tuition",
            "label": "Tuition and fees",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "18000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "housing",
            "label": "Housing and food",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "9000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "books",
            "label": "Books and supplies",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1200",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "other",
            "label": "Travel and other costs",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1800",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "scholarships",
            "label": "Scholarships and grants",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "12000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "family",
            "label": "Family contribution",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "6000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "savings",
            "label": "Your savings",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "3000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "work",
            "label": "Work earnings during the year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "months",
            "label": "Months in the academic year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "9"
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "gap",
            "label": "Funding gap for the year",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "cost",
            "label": "Cost of attendance",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "resources",
            "label": "Resources counted",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "coverage_pct",
            "label": "Share of cost covered",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "gap_per_month",
            "label": "Gap per month",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "surplus",
            "label": "Surplus if fully funded",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Gap = max(0, Cost − Resources);  Coverage = Resources ÷ Cost × 100;  Gap per month = Gap ÷ Months",
        "variables": {
            "Cost": "tuition + housing + books + other costs for the year",
            "Resources": "scholarships + family contribution + savings + work earnings"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "tuition": "18000",
            "housing": "9000",
            "books": "1200",
            "other": "1800",
            "scholarships": "12000",
            "family": "6000",
            "savings": "3000",
            "work": "2500",
            "months": "9",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Cost = 18,000 + 9,000 + 1,200 + 1,800 = 30,000.",
            "Resources = 12,000 + 6,000 + 3,000 + 2,500 = 23,500.",
            "Gap = 30,000 − 23,500 = 6,500, which is 722.22 a month over 9 months; 78.33% is covered."
        ],
        "result": "This student is 6,500 short for the year (about 722 a month), with 78% of the cost covered."
    },
    "interpretation": "Close a gap with more grants or scholarships first, then work or savings, and borrowing last. Recheck it each year, because costs rise and some awards are one-off.",
    "assumptions": [
        "All amounts are for one academic year and are certain to be received."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Loans are deliberately not counted as a resource; add them only if you want to see the remaining gap after borrowing."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Where do I find the cost of attendance?",
            "answer": "Most universities publish an estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, food, books and personal costs) on their financial-aid page."
        },
        {
            "question": "Is the gap the same as unmet need?",
            "answer": "Close. Official unmet need is calculated by the aid office using its own expected family contribution; this calculator uses the amounts you enter."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "College Tuition Inflation Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/college-tuition-inflation-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Student Monthly Budget Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/student-monthly-budget-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Savings Goal Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/savings-goal-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "This calculator gives estimates for planning. It is not financial advice, and lenders’ actual terms, fees and rounding may differ.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}