Methodology
This page explains what each Degree Sources tool estimates, the authoritative source it draws on, and where its results may differ from an official determination. For our broader editorial standards, see our Editorial Policy.
Start with a tool, then review the math
Methodology is most useful when connected to the calculator that produced the estimate. Each section below links to the relevant tool so you can begin from the calculator and return here to understand the source rules, assumptions, and limitations.
EFC / Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculator
What it estimates
Your Student Aid Index (formerly Expected Family Contribution), which financial aid offices use to determine your eligibility for federal aid including Pell Grants, subsidized loans, and institutional aid.
Basis
Implements the Federal Methodology as published by the U.S. Department of Education for the current award year, with adjustments reflecting the FAFSA Simplification Act's transition from Expected Family Contribution to the Student Aid Index. Annual updates to allowances and eligibility thresholds are applied when the Department publishes new tables.
Limitations
This is an estimate. Your actual SAI is determined by your completed FAFSA, processed by the Department of Education. The calculator cannot account for professional judgment adjustments, unusual circumstances appeals, or verification changes that your school may apply. If your situation involves non-standard elements (divorce, recent loss of income, significant medical expenses, complex assets), contact your school's financial aid office.
Use the related tool
Estimate your SAI before comparing aid options
Use this calculator when you want a formula-specific estimate before filing the FAFSA.
Use the SAI CalculatorFinancial Aid Quiz
What it estimates
Walks you through a short set of eligibility questions and produces a personalized estimate of the categories of federal and institutional aid you may qualify for.
Basis
Applies federal eligibility criteria published by Federal Student Aid (citizenship, enrollment status, dependency, income thresholds) and layers in institutional aid patterns drawn from federal data sets.
Limitations
The quiz provides directional estimates, not precise award amounts. Institutional aid varies dramatically by school; the quiz uses patterns rather than school-specific formulas. Your actual aid package depends on the schools you apply to and their individual policies.
Use the related tool
Screen your likely aid categories first
Use the quiz when you want a guided estimate of the aid categories your profile may unlock.
Use the Financial Aid QuizScholarship Finder
What it does
Searches and filters scholarships by degree level, field of study, student type (such as first-generation, veteran, or adult learner), and award amount.
Basis
Draws from institutional scholarship listings, public scholarship-provider information, and federal and state scholarship program documentation. We curate and review listings on an ongoing cycle.
Limitations
The database is not exhaustive. Scholarship availability, deadlines, and award amounts change frequently. Verify details directly with the scholarship provider before applying. We do not guarantee that any listed scholarship is currently accepting applications.
Use the related tool
Search scholarships after estimating federal aid
Use this tool to find stackable scholarships after you understand your likely federal and state-aid baseline.
Use the Scholarship FinderROI Calculator
What it estimates
Compares the total cost of a degree against the projected increase in lifetime earnings for your field of study, accounting for the opportunity cost of time spent in school.
Basis
Combines occupational earnings data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, program-level earnings from the College Scorecard, and institutional cost data from federal data systems. Assumptions about earnings growth and inflation are applied transparently and updated when source data is refreshed.
Limitations
Earnings projections use medians, which means half of graduates earn less. Field-of-study earnings vary by region, employer type, and individual career trajectory. The calculator compares relative financial value across paths — it does not forecast your specific outcome.
Use the related tool
Compare degree paths by projected return
Use the calculator to weigh the cost of different programs against projected earnings.
Use the ROI CalculatorLoan Repayment Calculator
What it estimates
Your monthly payment, total interest, and repayment timeline under federal repayment plans, including standard, graduated, extended, and income-driven options.
Basis
Implements the repayment-plan formulas published by Federal Student Aid, using current federal interest rates and federal poverty guidelines. Income-driven repayment estimates apply the published discretionary-income definitions for each plan.
Limitations
Income-driven projections assume stable income growth, which may not match your actual trajectory. Capitalized interest, deferment, and forbearance scenarios are not modeled. Income-driven repayment programs have been subject to ongoing regulatory changes — confirm current status with Federal Student Aid before making repayment decisions.
Use the related tool
Compare federal repayment plans
Use the calculator to model monthly payments and total interest across repayment options.
Use the Loan Repayment CalculatorCareer Salary Explorer
What it shows
Salary ranges by career field, comparing typical earnings for workers with and without a degree, expressed in standard wage percentiles.
Basis
Built on published occupational employment and wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and BLS data on earnings by educational attainment. Job-growth projections are drawn from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Limitations
BLS data reflects national medians. Salaries vary by metropolitan area, employer size, and experience. The tool shows what typical workers earn — not what any individual will earn.
GI Bill Calculator
What it estimates
Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill education benefits based on your service history, benefit tier, and school type.
Basis
Uses the Department of Veterans Affairs' published benefit rates, tuition caps, housing allowance schedules, and book and supply stipend amounts for the current award year. Yellow Ribbon Program participation is referenced from VA institutional data.
Limitations
Benefit estimates depend on your specific benefit tier (40%–100%). The calculator uses current-year VA rates, which the VA updates annually. Housing allowance estimates are based on the school's ZIP code and may change. Yellow Ribbon availability depends on each school's participation and remaining slots. For an official benefits determination, use the VA's own comparison tool or contact the VA directly.
Employer Tuition Checker
What it does
Looks up whether a given employer offers tuition reimbursement, tuition assistance, or education benefit programs, and displays reported program details.
Basis
Compiles publicly disclosed employer benefit information, including general references to the Internal Revenue Service's tax-free educational assistance framework where relevant.
Limitations
Employer benefit programs change without notice. The information shown may not reflect the most recent changes to a company's benefits package. Eligibility requirements (tenure, full-time status, grade requirements) vary by employer. Always verify directly with your employer's HR or benefits department before making enrollment decisions.
Time-to-Degree Calculator
What it estimates
How long a degree may take to complete based on your enrollment status, existing transfer credits, and typical credit requirements for your program type.
Basis
Standard credit requirements by degree type are drawn from institutional catalog data. Average credits-per-term assumptions reflect federal data on enrollment-status norms. Transfer credit acceptance patterns are aggregated from institutional disclosures.
Limitations
Actual time to degree depends on course availability, prerequisite sequencing, the school's transfer credit evaluation, and your ability to maintain the assumed course load. Program requirements vary by school and major. The estimate assumes uninterrupted enrollment.
Aid Letter Decoder
What it does
Breaks down a financial aid award letter into three categories — money you don't repay (grants and scholarships), money you earn (work-study), and money you borrow (loans) — and surfaces the net cost you are responsible for. It flags items that are commonly misunderstood, such as unsubsidized loans listed alongside grants.
Basis
Categorizes each line item using standard financial aid terminology and federal aid types.
Limitations
Some schools use non-standard naming for aid components. The decoder relies on common terminology and may miscategorize an unusual line item. If a result does not look right, contact the school's financial aid office for clarification.
General Limitations
All tools on the Site share these limitations:
- Estimates, not determinations. No online calculator can replace an official determination from your school's financial aid office or a government agency.
- Not financial advice. Degree Sources provides educational information and estimation tools. We are not financial advisors, and nothing on the Site constitutes financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
- Data currency. Government data, benefit rates, and institutional information change on regular cycles. There may be a lag between a policy change and our update.
- Individual variation. Median figures and general formulas cannot capture the full range of individual circumstances. Your actual results depend on factors specific to your situation.
Update Approach
We review tool formulas and data sources on ongoing cycles aligned with the federal financial aid award year. Additional updates are triggered by changes to federal formulas, new legislation, refreshed federal data releases, and errors identified through internal review or user reports.
If you believe a tool is producing an incorrect result, please report it through our contact page. We investigate every report. For our broader editorial standards, see our Editorial Policy. For background on the Site and our funding model, see About Degree Sources.