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My College Plan
Real Simple Smart Money Awards 2021

See how your financial decision add up.

Take your future for a test drive

Your school. Your major. Your career. Compare college costs, check out potential careers and earnings of college majors to determine your college ROI.

Compare college costs.

Match your skills to possible majors and careers.

Find out what you could earn after graduation.

This tool provides estimates intended for use only as a planning guide. We do not guarantee its accuracy or applicability to your circumstance, and we encourage you to consult a qualified professional, school or financial aid office directly for more information. Information within this tool is based on a review of government information. College and university costs and federal loan data is sourced from the 2020 US Department of Education College Scorecard. Majors and career salaries is sourced from the 2018 US Census American Community Survey. Data is based on 4-year colleges and universities offering a Bachelor's degree. Discover Student Loans does not offer federal student loans and this resource is not affiliated with the Department of Education. We will not share your results. Terms of Use.
Real Simple Smart Money Awards Logo is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation and is used under license.

OK, where should we start?

Choose the area you feel the most confident about, and we can go from there.

I’ve got some schools in mind. I’m considering a major. I’ve started thinking about my career. I’m not sure where to start.

How about something you’re good at?

Select a skill from the list to help narrow down a possible career path.

Farming

Gardening

Studying the past

Designing

Looking under the microscope

Studying the human body

Networking

Reading the market

Budgeting

Connecting with people

Selling

Managing people

Experimenting

Communicating

Building applications

Coding

Investing

Working with kids

Leading a team

Tutoring

Researching things

Building things

Reading & writing

Studying ecosystems

Helping the environment

Cooking

Figuring out how things work

Studying the sky

Reading maps

Studying the earth

Digging deep to find things

Studying the ocean

Exploring cultures

Analyzing art

Hosting events

Studying languages

Public speaking

Solving algorithms

Analyzing data

Staying healthy & fit

Helping people

Caring for others

Leading & persuading

Typing

Cracking the case

Solving mysteries

Debating

Studying people & society

Making deep connections

Giving back

Asking tough questions

Performing

Shooting video

Drawing, painting & sculpting

Caring for animals

Alright, now let’s talk about your major and career.

Do you have a specific career in mind?

Yes

OK, let’s explore the majors you’re into.

Enter up to 3 majors.

Fantastic! Let’s focus on that one.

Don’t see a match? Choose a similar career to the one you’re considering.

And how far from home are you willing to go?

Tuition costs are lower for those who choose to go to school in their home state.

In-State Out-of-State Not Sure

Sweet. Let’s talk about colleges.

No worries. We’ll guide you through the tool, starting with college choice.

Do you have any schools picked out?

Yes No

Which ones?

Enter up to 3 schools that offer bachelor's degrees in the United States.

Where do you want to go to school?

How about the type of school?

This will help estimate your tuition cost. The type of school can change those numbers a bit.

Public university

Public universities are funded by state governments and tend to offer lower tuition rates for residents.

Private university

Private universities are privately funded and tend to be more costly.

I'm not sure

Don’t worry. Lots of students are still figuring things out, too.

Let’s look at your numbers.

Based on what you told us, your future may very well involve any of the following colleges, majors, and/or careers.

Based on what you told us, your future may look something like this.

Based on what you told us, your future may very well involve any of these majors.

Top careers and expected salaries with this major.

TOP CAREERS WITH THIS MAJOR	Expected salary

Some details may not be available. Visit the school’s website for more information.

Not avaliable due to limited information from students.

MEDIAN SALARY FOR THIS MAJOR AT THIS SCHOOL

ANNUAL cost of attendance

Your federal loans snapshot

TOTAL MEDIAN federal loan debt

MONTHLY LOAN PAYMENT Over 10 years

College costs breakdown

Expected ANNUAL cost of attendance

Median salary for this major in this state

Your federal loans snapshot

Expected MEDIAN federal loan debt

MONTHLY LOAN PAYMENT Over 10 years

As you begin to explore your options, this might help you think about what kind of schools, majors and careers you want to pursue.

Public School annual Cost Of Attendance

$19,460

Private School annual Cost Of Attendance

$48,380

Public or private?

The cost to attend a private university tends to be higher than a public university. However, private universities may offer more financial aid to eligible students.

Learn more about different type of schools ›

Source: College Board Trends in College Pricing 2019. Cost includes tuition, fees, room & board.

Private nonprofit 4-year on-campus

$36,880

public 4-year in-state on-campus

$10,440

Public 4-year out-of-state on-campus

$26,820

In-state or out-of-state?

It is a common belief that out-of-state tuition can be more expensive than in-state tuition. As you evaluate college options, it’s important to look at costs beyond tuition. Here’s an estimated cost breakdown for full-time undergraduate students.