Scholarship Calculator
Finding the Gap Between What College Costs and What's Already Covered
Before applying for another scholarship, it helps to know exactly how large a gap actually needs filling. Cost of attendance minus what a family is expected to contribute produces financial need; subtracting any aid already secured — grants, existing scholarships, work-study awards — produces the remaining amount still worth pursuing. Chasing scholarships past that point doesn't cost anything, but knowing the real target keeps the search focused.
The Formula
Scholarship Needed = Financial Need − Other Aid Already Received
Worked Example
A student's total cost of attendance is $38,000 per year. Their expected family contribution is $12,000, and they've already been awarded $9,000 in grants and aid.
Scholarship Needed = $26,000 − $9,000 = $17,000
Where This Matters
- Prioritizing applications — a $17,000 gap justifies time spent on several mid-size scholarships rather than one; a $2,000 gap might be closed with a single local award.
- Comparing offers between schools — running the same formula for each school on a list shows which one leaves the smallest funding gap after aid, not just which has the lowest sticker price.
- Avoiding over-borrowing — knowing the true remaining need before signing a loan helps prevent borrowing more than what's actually left to cover.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the total cost of attendance per year.
- Enter the expected family contribution.
- Enter any other aid already received, if applicable.
- Select Calculate to see the remaining scholarship amount needed to fully close the gap.
Related Calculations
For a deeper breakdown of the family contribution figure itself, see the Expected Family Contribution Calculator, or check overall affordability with the Net Price Calculator.