College Net Price + Parent PLUS Gap Planner

Compare up to 4 college aid offers and see what is still left to pay after grants, the student’s own loan and Parent PLUS, under the federal loan limits that started on 1 July 2026.

From that date Parent PLUS is limited to $20,000 a year and $65,000 in total per student. A family facing a $40,000 net price can now be left with a gap even after borrowing the full amount, and the 4.228% fee means the school receives less than the loan. This planner shows that gap, year by year, before you sign anything.

Inside: an Excel workbook with live formulas (Compare, 4-year plan, Repayment, Rates, Sources), an offline browser version that saves your figures in your own browser and prints a summary, and a 4-page quick-start guide with a worked example. Works in Excel 2016 or later, Google Sheets and any modern browser.

It also estimates the monthly Parent PLUS payment on the new Tiered Standard plan, with or without deferment while the student is in school, and the student’s own payment range.

For parents and students comparing aid offers. Estimates for planning only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules checked against official sources on 2 November 2026; check them before you act. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education.