▁on ▁respective ▁websites . ▁ ▁College ▁cost ▁calcul ators ▁▁ ▁Post - second ary ▁institutions ▁post ▁a ▁Cost ▁of ▁Att endance ▁or ▁Price ▁of ▁Att endance , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁a ▁" st icker ▁price ." ▁However , ▁that ▁price ▁is ▁not ▁how ▁much ▁an ▁institution ▁will ▁cost ▁an ▁individual ▁student . ▁To ▁make ▁higher ▁education ▁costs ▁more ▁transparent ▁before ▁a ▁student ▁actually ▁applies ▁to ▁college , ▁federal ▁law ▁requires ▁all ▁post - second ary ▁institutions ▁receiving ▁Title ▁IV ▁funds ▁( f eder al ▁funds ▁for ▁student ▁aid ) ▁to ▁post ▁net ▁price ▁calcul ators ▁on ▁their ▁websites ▁by ▁October ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁As ▁defined ▁in ▁The ▁High er ▁Education ▁O pport unity ▁Act ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁the ▁net ▁price ▁calcul ator ' s ▁purpose ▁is : ▁ ▁“ … to ▁help ▁current ▁and ▁pros pective ▁students , ▁families , ▁and ▁other ▁consum ers ▁estimate ▁the ▁individual ▁net ▁price ▁of ▁an ▁institution ▁of ▁higher ▁education ▁for ▁a ▁student . ▁The ▁net ▁price ▁calcul ator ▁shall ▁be ▁developed ▁in ▁a ▁manner ▁that ▁enables ▁current ▁and ▁pros pective ▁students , ▁families , ▁and ▁consum ers ▁to ▁determine ▁an ▁estimate ▁of ▁a ▁current ▁or ▁pros pective ▁student ’ s ▁individual ▁net ▁price ▁at ▁a ▁particular ▁institution .” ▁ ▁The ▁law ▁defines ▁estimated ▁net ▁price ▁as ▁the ▁difference ▁between ▁an ▁institution ' s ▁average ▁total ▁Price ▁of ▁Att endance ▁( the ▁sum ▁of ▁tu ition ▁and ▁fe es , ▁room ▁and ▁board , ▁books ▁and