College & career finance
Compare education and career costs using a complete picture.
Start with the idea
Education and career paths have different costs and potential benefits. Compare tuition, fees, books, living costs, time, and available aid. Loans have repayment terms and costs. Use current school and government sources and compare options without assuming one path fits everyone.
Key takeaways
- Compare net price (after grants and scholarships), not just sticker price.
- Fill out the FAFSA to be considered for federal aid.
- Borrow only what you need; federal student loans generally have more protections than private loans.
- Consider expected earnings in a field when deciding how much to borrow.
By the end you can…
- Compare direct and indirect education costs
- Explore funding sources and obligations
- Ask questions before accepting an offer
Source: Federal Student Aid, studentaid.gov; CFPB paying for college tools.
Vocabulary flashcards
Education cost comparison
Compare two programs by net price and estimated loan payments.
Use each school's Net Price Calculator and current federal loan rates at studentaid.gov. A common guideline is to keep total student loans below your expected first-year salary.
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3
Printable activity
Use this with the physical kit, in a group, or on your own.
- Compare two fictional education pathways across several cost categories.
- Identify questions to ask a school about aid and loan terms.
Reflection: What would you want to know before making this choice in real life?
Practice questions
- Two fictional programs have different tuition and commuting costs. What comparison is most useful?
- Compare total costs, time, funding, and program details
- Compare tuition only
- Choose the program with the longest name
- School A costs $30,000/yr with $18,000 in grants. School B costs $20,000/yr with $5,000 in grants. Which has the lower net price?
- School A ($12,000)
- School B ($15,000)
- They are the same
- Which type of aid generally does NOT need to be repaid?
- Federal student loan
- Pell Grant
- Private student loan