Scholarship Stacking Calculator
Add up stacked scholarships and other aid against your cost of attendance to see remaining cost — or whether you have an over-award to resolve.
How it works
Total aid = scholarships + other aid · Remaining cost = cost of attendance − total aid · Over-award = total aid − cost of attendance (if positive)
Scholarship stacking means combining multiple scholarships and grants toward one education bill. It is a powerful way to shrink the amount you pay, but total aid generally cannot exceed your cost of attendance — go over and you have an over-award, which the financial-aid office must resolve, often by trimming loans or need-based grants first. Knowing your remaining cost after stacking tells you exactly how much still has to come from savings, work-study or loans.
Worked example
Against a $30,000 cost of attendance, $12,000 in scholarships plus $8,000 of other aid stacks to $20,000 — covering about 67% and leaving $10,000 to fund. If instead you won $35,000 in aid, you would be $5,000 over the cost, an over-award the school would adjust.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine multiple scholarships?
Usually yes, but total gift aid generally cannot exceed your cost of attendance. Outside scholarships may also require the school to reduce other aid, so report them and check the stacking rules.
What is an over-award?
It is when your combined aid exceeds the total cost of attendance. Schools must resolve it, typically by reducing loans or work-study first, and sometimes need-based grants — rarely your outside scholarships.
Does stacking reduce my other aid?
It can. Outside scholarships sometimes trigger a dollar-for-dollar reduction in need-based aid, though many schools reduce loans and work-study before touching grants. Ask how your school handles it.
Related calculators
Educational estimate only. Financial-aid, loan and tuition rules change and vary by school, state and program — confirm figures with your school and loan servicer.