New calculator determines cost of Indiana colleges

INDIANAPOLIS — A new online calculator allows families to see the true cost of attending Indiana colleges once financial aid is taken into account.

Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers say providing a clear picture of what college really costs can help overcome the "sticker shock" that leads some students to believe they can't afford higher education.

The Indiana College Costs Estimator takes about 15 minutes to use and requires tax form data and other information. Once the information is entered, students and their parents can see the net cost of attending various schools.

The site — www.indianacollegecosts.com — offers a side-by-side comparison of schools and allows users to create "what if" scenarios to see how the price of college changes as financial and academic circumstances change.