Disclosures and Data Sources

Updated July 2022

Income Data Source
  • Work Force: PayScale
  • 2 Year College Degrees: PayScale
  • 4 Year College and Graduate School: NACE First Destinations Survey
  • Other Degrees and Certificates: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Apprenticeship: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Military: Today’s Military
College Cost Data Sources
  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Estimated Financial Aid Data Sources
  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Student Loans
  • Student loan payment calculations assume the current year interest rate (4.99% Loans First Disbursed on or After July 1, 2022, and Before July 1, 2023) for Undergraduate, Direct Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, and a 10-year monthly repayment plan.
Future Monthly Budget
  • Federal Tax Calculation assumes single filer and taxable income equals gross income minus the current standard deduction of $12,950 (2022 tax year). The 2022 federal income tax brackets are then applied to taxable income.
  • State tax calculation assumes a flat 5% tax on taxable income.
  • Budget allocation percentages for the original budget we provide are based on commonly used financial planning principles. They are a starting point only and users will need to personalize them based on their own situation.
  • Budget comparison numbers are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Table 3600 and represent the average expenses for a consumer who is between ages 25-34 with an income of $50,969.