How to Make College Profitable
What If? Financial Future Tool
Compare two paths and see how college cost, student loans and saving affect the lifestyle money you have available.
1. Start With the Life You Want
Start with your future, then work backward into the career and education that can support it.
2. Build Two Paths
Keep the comparison simple: career income, education cost, borrowing, saving and lifestyle.
PATH A
Career
Education
Student Loan Calculator
Suggested loan need
$0
Calculated monthly payment
$0/mo
Saving
Defaults to 10%. Lower it for more lifestyle money today; raise it for more future value.
PATH B
Career
Education
Student Loan Calculator
Suggested loan need
$0
Calculated monthly payment
$0/mo
Saving
Defaults to 10%. Lower it for more lifestyle money today; raise it for more future value.
Talk-focused cash flow:
Gross income - 20% taxes - student loan payment - savings = money available for your lifestyle.
3. Calculate My What If?
See the tradeoff between lifestyle today and building wealth for later.
Separate from the student-loan rate; used only for savings future-value illustrations.
PATH A
Monthly Cash Flow
Gross monthly income
$0
Taxes (20%)
-$0
Student loan payment
-$0
Savings (10%)
-$0
Available for lifestyle
$0
Future Value of Monthly Savings
10 years
$0
20 years
$0
Retirement
$0
PATH B
Monthly Cash Flow
Gross monthly income
$0
Taxes (20%)
-$0
Student loan payment
-$0
Savings (10%)
-$0
Available for lifestyle
$0
Future Value of Monthly Savings
10 years
$0
20 years
$0
Retirement
$0
What changed?
Educational illustration only. Taxes are simplified at 20%. Student-loan payments use the loan amount, rate and term entered. Savings future values use the investment-return assumption entered and are not guaranteed.
How to Make College Profitable - What If? Results
Student / Family Comparison Summary
Future Plan:
Path A
Career & Education
Career / Major
School / Program
Annual salary
Total education cost
Student loan
Loan rate / term
Monthly Cash Flow
Gross income
Taxes (20%)
Student loan
Savings
Available for lifestyle
Future Value
10 years
20 years
Retirement
Path B
Career & Education
Career / Major
School / Program
Annual salary
Total education cost
Student loan
Loan rate / term
Monthly Cash Flow
Gross income
Taxes (20%)
Student loan
Savings
Available for lifestyle
Future Value
10 years
20 years
Retirement
Educational illustration only. Taxes are estimated at 20%. Student-loan payments use the entered principal, interest rate and term. Savings future values use the entered investment-return assumption.
