This tutorial provides an overview of the National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) net price calculator template, as well as a brief background on the calculator requirement. AIR’s net price calculator, developed for this tutorial, is available online.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 includes a requirement for all postsecondary institutions that participate in Title IV federal student aid programs to post a net price calculator on their websites. The net price calculator is required for all Title IV institutions that enroll first-time, full-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students. Institutions must have net price calculators on their websites by October 29, 2011.

To meet this requirement, institutions may choose to:

• Use the U.S. Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator template; or
• Develop a customized version that must include, at a minimum, the same elements as the Department's template

The links below provide additional information on the net price calculator requirement.

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)
     2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
     Net Price Calculator Requirement
     Net Price Calculator Template