The workbench
Tools for working it out
Seven free tools, each built for a different kind of question. They run in your browser, show their assumptions, and never ask for your name or email.
Assessment
Readiness Check
Answer a handful of honest questions about your goal, time, and money, and get a starting level plus two or three moves worth making next—no account, no score to chase. You giveA few honest answers about your goal, timeline, and budget You getA starting level and two or three tailored next moves Time~4 min CalculatorTrue Cost Calculator
Enter tuition, living costs, aid, and savings to see net cost, the gap you'd need to cover, and an example monthly loan payment—with every assumption shown. You giveTuition, living costs, grants, savings, and an interest rate You getNet cost, funding gap, an example payment, and what moves the number most Time~5 min ChecklistAid Readiness Checklist
A tickable, printable checklist that adapts to whether you're likely a dependent or independent student, and remembers your progress in this browser. You giveA few yes/no answers about your situation You getA personalized checklist, saved in this browser, ready to print Time~4 min MapperSkills Gap Mapper
List the skills a target job asks for, rate yourself honestly, and get a prioritized plan that sorts each one into learn, prove, or translate—with a way to close it. You giveSkills from real job postings and a 0–3 self-rating for each You getA gap map sorted into learn / prove / translate, with next moves Time~8 min ComparisonProgram Face-Off
Enter what each school tells you. The worksheet totals the real cost, flags the answers you're still missing, and exports a copy you can keep. You giveCost, length, format, accreditation, and outcomes for each program You getComparable totals, the gaps to ask about, and a downloadable file Time~10 min PlannerWeekly Time Planner
Add up work, commuting, caregiving, sleep, and study, and see how many credits your week can realistically carry before something has to give. You giveYour weekly commitments and the course load you're weighing You getA week chart, the hours left over, and a sustainable credit range Time~4 minYour answers stay here
Tool inputs are saved in your browser so you can come back to them. They aren’t sent to us. Manage storage.
Estimates, not verdicts
Results depend on the numbers and choices you enter. Each tool explains what it can and can’t tell you.
Not sure where to start?
Try the Readiness Check if you’re deciding what to do, or the True Cost Calculator if you’ve picked a program.