The monthly payment behind the college decision.

The total cost is easy to find. The monthly payment isn't.

Start typing to search. We'll fill in an estimated school cost for you. Update it with your own numbers anytime.

Published estimate. Replace with your financial aid offer.

$
$
Using this school's published average grants & scholarships.
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Leave blank to assume the full remaining cost is borrowed.

About this estimate

Built using U.S. Department of Education data and published federal financial aid data. See how this estimate is calculated. Anonymous calculation data may be retained to help improve CollegeClearly. No personal information is collected. Not financial advice.

Estimated monthly loan payment after graduation

/month
for 20 years after graduation ?Estimated using a standard 20-year repayment term and 6% interest rate.
Total borrowed
estimated amount financed across 4 years
Total repaid
total cost of borrowing over 20 years, including interest

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What your comparison will look like

1 State University $145/mo Lowest cost
2 Midwestern College $360/mo Mid-range
3 Private University $690/mo Highest cost

In this example, State University results in a $545/month lower loan payment than Private University, and over $100,000 less repaid over 20 years.

There’s one thing this estimate doesn’t show.

The monthly payment tells you the size of the commitment. It doesn’t show what types of loans typically make up that borrowing, or who may ultimately be responsible for repayment.

Understanding the borrowing behind your estimate →

How schools compare

In-state public

$218/mo

$52,320 repaid over 20 years

Low monthly cost

Private university

$634/mo

$152,160 repaid over 20 years

Moderate commitment
Difference between these schools
$416/month
$99,840 more repaid over 20 years
Compare my schools →

Sample based on typical cost differences. Enter your actual schools to see real numbers.

Understand what's behind this estimate

  • Loan Understanding What types of loans typically make up college borrowing, and who is responsible for repayment.
  • Ways to Reduce Borrowing Concrete strategies families can explore before committing to a college, from scholarships and grants to financial aid appeals and lower-cost options.
  • College Finance Glossary Plain-language definitions of the terms that appear in financial aid offers and college cost conversations.