Total Cost of Degree

Tuition + fees + room/board + books + opportunity cost over years.

Inputs

Salary you could earn if working instead.

Result

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General calculation reads

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Jordan Ellenberg - math thinking
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Scientific calculator (Casio fx-991EX)
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How to use this calculator

  • Enter all annual costs + years to graduate + opportunity income.

About this calculator

True degree cost includes opportunity cost (income foregone while studying). 4-year private degree ($45k/yr direct + $35k/yr opportunity) = ~$320k. Public in-state ($25k/yr) = ~$240k. Compare to bachelor's salary premium (BLS: lifetime ~$1M over high-school grad) — degree usually positive ROI but varies by major. STEM majors recoup quickly; humanities much slower.

Frequently asked

Why include opportunity cost?+
It's real money lost. 4 years × $35k = $140k forgone. Treating school as "investment" requires honest opportunity accounting.
Federal aid offset?+
Subtract grants + scholarships from direct cost. Loans don't reduce cost — they shift it forward in time.
In-state vs out-of-state?+
In-state public: ~$25-30k/yr COA. Out-of-state public: ~$45-55k. Private: $55-80k.
Lifetime salary premium?+
BLS: ~$1M bachelor's vs. high school. Master's: +$400k more. PhD: +$700k more (varies wildly by field).
Major matters?+
Engineering/CS: ~$80k starting. Liberal arts: ~$45k starting. Big difference in ROI.

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