What is a college planning calculator and what does it do?

A college planning calculator is an online tool that helps students and their families estimate the cost of attending college and plan for how they will pay for it. These calculators typically ask for information such as the student's current age, the age they plan to start college, the cost of tuition and fees at the colleges they are considering, and the amount of financial aid they expect to receive. Based on this information, the calculator generates an estimated total cost of attendance and provides suggestions for how much the student and their family should save each year to meet their college funding goals. College planning calculators can be a helpful resource for students and families who want to plan ahead for college expenses and make informed decisions about college affordability.