How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose tuition and fees.
- Enter or choose housing and food.
- Enter or choose books and supplies.
- Enter or choose travel and other costs.
- Enter or choose scholarships and grants.
- The funding gap for the year updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Gap = max(0, Cost − Resources); Coverage = Resources ÷ Cost × 100; Gap per month = Gap ÷ Months
- Cost
- tuition + housing + books + other costs for the year
- Resources
- scholarships + family contribution + savings + work earnings
Worked example
- 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.
This student is 6,500 short for the year (about 722 a month), with 78% of the cost covered.
What the result means
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 and limits
- All amounts are for one academic year and are certain to be received.
- Loans are deliberately not counted as a resource; add them only if you want to see the remaining gap after borrowing.
Questions
Where do I find the cost of attendance?
Most universities publish an estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, food, books and personal costs) on their financial-aid page.
Is the gap the same as unmet need?
Close. Official unmet need is calculated by the aid office using its own expected family contribution; this calculator uses the amounts you enter.
Please note: This calculator gives estimates for planning. It is not financial advice, and lenders’ actual terms, fees and rounding may differ.