Compare the same kind of cost
Our main comparison is the estimated cost of remaining educational credits at the currently published applicable rate. We show known mandatory fees separately and calculate a combined total only when that fee coverage is complete. A base rate can include standard fees; the source notes explain what the institution calls that rate.
This is not a prediction of your financial aid award or future tuition. Books, living expenses, travel, and licensing expenses are outside the main calculation unless specifically stated. Future rate changes are not modeled.
What goes into an estimate
For a program priced per credit, the calculation is:
Remaining credits × applicable published rate + confirmed mandatory fees.
Remaining credits are required credits minus the number you assume the school will accept. Only the institution can determine which credits apply. An estimate with no remaining credits models no further enrollment charges; it does not confirm graduation eligibility or settlement of an existing balance.
Residency pricing is applied only where the official rule is verified. Choosing a state does not establish legal residence, access to an online program, or eligibility for a waiver.
When a program can be ranked
Only programs with current, source-backed rates, degree requirements, applicable pricing, and fully verified mandatory fees enter a total-cost ranking. Partially priced programs remain visible without a ranked total. Subscription and flat-rate pricing require enrollment assumptions that the per-credit model does not supply.
We compare the reviewed cohort, not every institution in the country. An earlier inclusion does not guarantee that a program remains eligible. The public guides disclose their coverage and verification status.
Freshness and uncertainty
Source checks expire after 90 days for current cost calculations. Conflicting information, unknown fees, and uncertain pricing remain flagged. A broken source does not trigger an inferred replacement price or a new verification date.
Earlier editions
College announcements may refer to an earlier ranking. Updated information can change a school’s position or eligibility. We preserve the guide address and subject rather than maintaining an outdated position to match a historical announcement.