Planning for college can seem like an insurmountable task, and sometimes it seems that the financial aid office has a language all its own. The purpose of the Net Price Calculator is to give first time, full-time freshman students (and their parents) a better idea of what their “estimated” educational cost will be. The glossary terms below will explain the meaning of the terms used and how they relate to you.

Keep in mind that applying for financial aid is a separate process, and that the data you provide as well as your estimated results are not stored by Oregon State University. In order to receive an actual financial aid award, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application must be submitted (on a yearly basis), and the actual award package will vary depending upon meeting the priority deadline, regulatory and institutional policy, availability of funds, actual test scores and academic information, and verifiable financial information. For more information on applying for Federal student aid, please visit www.fafsa.gov. This calculator is intended for use by U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be incoming first-year students, entering in the fall semester, pursuing their first undergraduate degree and who will be enrolled full time. This calculator does not apply to transfer, continuing, graduate or medical students. Click on the link below to calculate your net price.

Calculate your Net Price

Learn more about the application process for federal financial aid and OSU scholarships.

The Fine Print

The Net Price Calculator is provided for your use as a tool to help plan for the expense of college. The estimates provided by the Net Price Calculator will provide you a general snapshot of what you can expect for planning purposes. Your final award however will be based on the results of your FAFSA application and other applicable data. The estimate provided is based on cost of attendance and financial aid provided to students in 2016-2017. Cost of attendance and financial aid availability change year to year, and awards are determined on an individual basis. Therefore using the information provided, while helpful for planning, may only provide a partial overview of what you can expect to receive in financial aid. Grant and scholarship aid figures used do not include Athletic grants or scholarships received from outside sources. Additional aid such as federal loan eligibility, while available for students and parents to utilize, is also absent from the financial aid estimate as it is aid that must be repaid after graduation. For more information on the types of aid available, please visit our website.

Please note that University charges are billed on a term by term basis, whereas the Net Price Calculator will provide a yearly estimate. To assist in your budgeting, and to determine the approximate billing per term, divide the amount given by the number of terms (Typically Fall, Winter, & Spring). OSU’s FAFSA priority deadline, which is used in the awarding of some federal and institutional aid, is February 28th. Not all students receive financial aid. With the exception of some scholarships, a current FAFSA application is needed to be awarded financial aid (including student loans).

Net Price Calculator Terminology

Estimated total price of attendance: Also referred to as the Cost of Attendance (COA). The cost of attendance is based upon average costs and educational expenses for a student in your category. The cost of attendance helps us to determine your financial aid award, but does not reflect the amount you owe the University. You will receive a bill that shows your actual University charges.

*Estimated Tuition & Fees: This number represents the cost of tuition for classes and any applicable University Fees.

*Estimated Room & Board: This amount is an average figure based on double occupancy for campus and off-campus living arrangements. Students living in university housing will be billed for their actual room and meal rates. Those not living in campus housing or using campus meal plans will still have this amount allocated in their cost of attendance, but will not be billed by the university for these charges. It is expected that additional financial aid proceeds will be used to pay living expenses for students living off-campus.

Estimated Books and Supplies: This is an average amount you might spend on books and supplies. This amount is not actually billed to your student account.

Estimated Other Expenses: Also referred to as Miscellaneous and Personal. This is an estimate of what you might spend during the school year on personal items, clothing, recreation and travel, and is not an amount billed by the University.

Estimated total Grant Aid: The median amount of grant aid, which is aid that does not have to be repaid (also known as gift aid) received by OSU students in your category. This amount includes Federal Aid (such as Pell Grant), State & Institutional grant aid, as well as Institutional merit & need-based scholarships. It does not include any outside scholarships you may receive.

Estimated net price: This is the price of attendance minus any grant aid you receive.

*These are the only components of the Cost of Attendance that are billed to the student account.