What Is the Sticker Price?

The sticker price is the full, published cost of attendance before any financial aid or scholarships are applied. It includes tuition, room and board, fees, and sometimes books and transportation. It’s a starting point—but not the final price tag.

What Really Matters: Net Price

The net price is what you pay after grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid are subtracted from the sticker price. This is the number that matters—and it varies widely based on your financial situation, the school’s aid policies, and how strategically you apply.

Some families look at a $70,000 college and immediately rule it out. But with the right aid package, that same school might cost less than a $30,000 in-state option.

Why Schools Don’t Lead With Net Price

Colleges use the sticker price for marketing and ranking purposes—but they negotiate the real price individually. This is why two families can pay completely different amounts to attend the same school. Factors like income, assets, test scores, and even when you apply can impact your final cost.

How to Focus on What Matters

At Diversified College Planning, we help families focus on schools where the net price is most favorable—and we build strategies to reduce that number even further. That includes:

• Finding schools that are generous with institutional aid

• Navigating FAFSA and CSS Profile submissions

• Identifying hidden merit aid opportunities

• Structuring finances to maximize aid eligibility

Understanding the difference between sticker price and net price can save your family tens of thousands of dollars—and help your student attend a better school at a better price.

Contact Us Today:
Want to uncover your real college cost—not just the sticker price?

📞 Call us at 770-662-8510
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