Student Aid Eligibility Calculator

Work out student aid eligibility instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Student Aid Eligibility Calculator

Need-based aid starts from cost of attendance — tuition, fees, living costs, books and travel — less the expected family contribution and any other aid already awarded. Institutions then split the remaining need between gift aid and self-help through work-study and student loans.

Formulas

Demonstrated need

Need = Cost of attendance - Expected family contribution - Other aid

Grant eligibility

Grant = Need x (1 - Self-help expectation %)

Worked example

With the default values below, Student Aid Eligibility Calculator returns Demonstrated financial need of $650,000.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Total cost of attendance: 1,200,000
Expected family contribution: 350,000
Other grants and scholarships received: 200,000
Portion of need expected from work and loans: 40

Results

Demonstrated financial need: $650,000.00
Indicative grant eligibility: $390,000.00
Expected from work-study and loans: $260,000.00
Need as % of cost of attendance: 54.17%

Step by step

1Values used
2Demonstrated need
3Grant eligibility
4Demonstrated financial need= 650,000.00
5Indicative grant eligibility= 390,000.00
6Expected from work-study and loans= 260,000.00
7Need as % of cost of attendance= 54.17

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Indicative estimate only. Fees, entitlements, limits and formulas vary by jurisdiction, statute, policy wording and the facts of the case. This is not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice — confirm with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Indicative estimate only. Fees, entitlements, limits and formulas vary by jurisdiction, statute, policy wording and the facts of the case. This is not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice — confirm with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What goes into cost of attendance?

Direct costs such as tuition and fees plus indirect costs — housing, food, books, equipment, transport and personal expenses — as published by the institution.

Is need fully met?

Only at institutions that pledge to meet full demonstrated need. Most leave a gap that families must cover from additional borrowing.