College pricing can devolve into an opaque mix of terminology — tuition, fees, net price, funded financial aid, unfunded financial aid, federal student loans, private student loans, scholarships, grants, work-study — contributing to a system that even higher education experts find confusing.
This can make the process of applying to college and choosing an institution difficult for students and families, especially those who are price sensitive or who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of the system. It’s particularly concerning for underrepresented and low-income students, as those who think their families can’t afford to pay for college are less likely to attend.
