Your numbers
$
Tuition, fees, housing, books and living costs. Use the school’s official figure.
years
$
$
$
%
years
$
Look up typical pay for your career in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Can you afford it?
Estimates only, based on the numbers you enter and the rules shown. Not financial advice. Your lender or provider will use its own checks.
Find the real numbers
- Use each college’s net price calculator to estimate cost after grants. College Scorecard
- Fill in the FAFSA to apply for federal grants and loans. StudentAid.gov: FAFSA
- Look up typical pay for your career. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
How to afford going back to school as an adult
- Apply for federal student aid: there is no age limit for the FAFSA.
- Ask your employer about tuition assistance. In the US, up to $5,250 a year of employer educational assistance can be tax-free.
- Study part time while you work, or start at a community college.
- Check tax credits for education.
Sources: StudentAid.gov: who gets aid · IRS: tax benefits for education
Outside the US
Frequently asked questions
How much student loan debt is too much?
A common rule of thumb is to borrow no more than your expected first-year salary, so payments stay manageable. It is a guide, not a rule set by lenders.
Is there an age limit for financial aid?
No. StudentAid.gov says there is no age limit for federal student aid.
What counts as cost of attendance?
Tuition and fees plus housing, food, books, transport and personal costs. Colleges publish their own figure.