Financial Aid Gap Calculator — Formula
## How to Calculate the Financial Aid Gap
The aid gap is the difference between what college costs and what your financial aid covers. This is the amount you must pay from savings, income, or additional loans.
### Formula
**Total Cost = Tuition + Room & Board + Books**
**Aid Gap = Total Cost - (Grants + Loans + Work-Study)**
**Net Price = Total Cost - Grants/Scholarships (free money only)**
The net price is a better measure of true cost since loans and work-study must be repaid or earned.
The aid gap is the difference between what college costs and what your financial aid covers. This is the amount you must pay from savings, income, or additional loans.
### Formula
**Total Cost = Tuition + Room & Board + Books**
**Aid Gap = Total Cost - (Grants + Loans + Work-Study)**
**Net Price = Total Cost - Grants/Scholarships (free money only)**
The net price is a better measure of true cost since loans and work-study must be repaid or earned.
Exemplo Resolvido
COA: $43,200 ($30K tuition, $12K room/board, $1.2K books). Aid: $18K grants, $5.5K loans, $2.5K work-study.
- Total cost: $30,000 + $12,000 + $1,200 = $43,200
- Total aid: $18,000 + $5,500 + $2,500 = $26,000
- Aid gap: $43,200 - $26,000 = $17,200
- Net price (free money only): $43,200 - $18,000 = $25,200
- Aid coverage: $26,000 / $43,200 = 60.2%