With private college tuition rates averaging more than $36,000 per year (not including room and board), the affordability factor can often trump fit when it comes to developing a college list. The sticker price listed, however, doesn't factor in variables such as financial aid, institutional aid, merit aid, and scholarships. To get a better idea of what any given school may actually cost you, visit a school's financial aid webpage and look for the Net Price Calculator. Recent tax returns and information about parental assets will be handy; some schools will also ask for information about your GPA or test scores. A few caveats: these net price calculators (while mandatory for schools to include) do not all follow the same formula to calculate results, and they do not factor potential aid for talent-specific awards. And while schools with standard GPA- or test score-based scholarships may include these awards, merit aid is frequently also generally not factored into a net price calculator result. (Tip: many schools use the College Board's net price calculator, so signing in with your College Board account can save you time if you want to compare results from multiple schools)

The FAFSA4caster is another tool that students and parents can use to see how much federal aid (loans, Pell grants, work-study, etc.) you may be eligible for--keep in mind that this form doesn't include any aid that a school will give you in the form of grants or scholarships. Another feature of this tool is that it provides the EFC, expected family contribution, at the very end of the report. This number (which is not official until you complete the real FAFSA in the fall of senior year) is the starting point colleges use to develop their award packages for students.

Yes, college is expensive, but a number of factors will influence the final cost of attendance, from parental assets and income to the strength of a student's application. Some research (and help from a professional!) can help you determine schools that are a better financial fit than you may have thought!