Whether a student attends a community college or a four-year college, tuition is only the tip of the iceberg for expenses. Students should also factor in books, housing, meals and transportation. A good way to see the net price of a college, which is an estimate of the amount students will actually pay after financial aid is factored in, is to use a net price calculator. Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, recommends students use the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator tool, which includes financial aid information like the average amount of aid offered. 'You go to the College Navigator, you enter the school name and all the information comes up, versus going to each school's website and trying to find their financial information,' McCarthy says."

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