Finding the best deal for your child's college education will soon be just a click away.
In a few weeks, every college and university in the country will be required to post an online calculator to show how much students will pay, based on both scores and need.
For students like Waco High senior Andy Pendleton, attending Baylor University is the dream. But when tuition and fees top out at more than $40,000 a year, money is a major concern.
"How much scholarship and how much financial aid I can get will probably affect whether I end up going there or not," he said.
That's where Baylor's scholarship calculator comes in. Students enter their class rank and test scores to see how much money Baylor has to offer.
"Really it's a very helpful tool in helping families and students be able to begin the planning process for paying for a university education," said Lori Fogleman of Baylor University.
"It was definitely easy. I could like try it out and then I could go back on later and show my parents what I found out - the information was easy to access," said Baylor junior Jamie Mortimer, recalling the calculator from her high school years.
High school career counselors say it's not just a calculator, it's also a motivator.
"It really lets students see 'hey this really is paying off for me - that I've tried hard, that I've worked hard,'" said Waco High School career counselor Lisa Hall.
With schools across the country picking it up by the Higher Education Opportunity Act's Oct. 29 deadline, students like Andy will have a chance to plan for life after college before ever stepping foot on campus.
"It will definitely affect me and not just my parents, how much I have to pay back after school," he said.
Baylor plans to unveil a second calculator, this one based on financial need of the student, before the deadline at the end of the month.
Click here for more information about the calculators.
Click here to use Baylor's current calculator.
Reporter: Rebecca Schleicher/Photographer: Carlos Ramirez
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