Enter your semester details
Formula used
- Monthly to semester: Monthly × Months
- Weekly to semester: Weekly × Weeks
- Hourly earnings (gross): Rate × Hours/week × Weeks
- Hourly earnings (after withholding): Gross × (1 − Withholding%/100)
- Expense cushion: Selected expenses × Cushion%/100
- Net: Total Income − Total Expenses
- Coverage: (Total Income ÷ Total Expenses) × 100%
How to use this calculator
- Choose currency, semester weeks, and months.
- Enter income amounts from aid, work, and support.
- Add tuition and living expenses using weekly or monthly values.
- Use withholding and cushion to make estimates realistic.
- Press Submit to see totals, net result, and coverage.
- Download CSV or PDF to share or review later.
Example data table
These examples show how different income mixes affect the semester net.
| Scenario | Weeks | Scholarship | Stipend / mo | Job rate | Hours / wk | Tuition | Housing / mo | Meals / wk | Estimated Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced plan | 16 | $2,000 | $300 | $12/hr | 8 | $2,500 | $400 | $60 | $220 surplus |
| High tuition | 16 | $1,500 | $250 | $14/hr | 10 | $3,800 | $450 | $65 | $310 deficit |
| Work-heavy term | 18 | $800 | $0 | $16/hr | 15 | $2,200 | $500 | $55 | $640 surplus |
Semester cashflow targets
Most semesters run 14–18 weeks, which is typically 4–5 months. Set the Weeks and Months fields to match your academic calendar, then translate recurring items into a term total. A $350 monthly stipend across 4.5 months becomes $1,575. A $55 weekly grocery plan across 16 weeks becomes $880. This framing makes it easier to compare aid timing with bill due dates. Mark tuition and rent due weeks, and ensure scheduled income reaches those checkpoints before you commit to discretionary spending fully.
Income planning with realistic take-home
Work income often looks higher on paper than what arrives in your account. Use the withholding percent to estimate take-home pay for hourly roles. For example, $15/hour × 10 hours/week × 16 weeks equals $2,400 gross. With 12% withholding, take-home becomes $2,112. If your role has irregular hours, enter a conservative average so the plan stays stable when shifts change.
Fixed versus variable costs
Separate costs you must pay from costs you can manage. Tuition, fees, and rent are usually fixed for the term, so enter them as one-time or monthly values. Meals, transport, personal spending, and supplies are variable and often drift upward during exams or travel weeks. The cushion percent adds a buffer to selected expense categories, helping you account for price changes, unexpected lab materials, or small medical visits.
Break-even and coverage indicators
Net equals total income minus total expenses. A positive net indicates a surplus you can save or allocate to debt. A negative net flags a gap you need to close before the semester begins. Coverage percentage (income divided by expenses) provides a quick signal: 100% means break-even, 110% suggests breathing room, and below 95% often indicates risk of late payments without additional support.
Decision signals for adjustments
When results show a deficit, start with high-impact levers. Review housing and tuition first for payment plans or installment options. Next, adjust variable categories by setting weekly caps and tracking spending. Consider adding small income sources such as tutoring, research hours, or weekend shifts, and re-run the plan with updated hours. Export the CSV or PDF to share with a counselor, sponsor, or family member for quicker decisions.
FAQs
1) What should I enter for weeks and months?
Use your official academic calendar. Enter the teaching weeks for your term and the number of months you pay recurring costs like housing or subscriptions.
2) How do I choose a withholding percentage?
Check a recent payslip for taxes and deductions. If unsure, use a cautious range like 8–15% for part-time roles and adjust once you see real deposits.
3) Should I include savings as an expense?
Yes. Treat savings like a bill by using the emergency fund field. Even a small weekly amount builds resilience for surprise fees and short income weeks.
4) What if scholarships arrive after tuition is due?
The calculator totals the semester amounts, not payment timing. Build a buffer in your net plan and ask the bursar about deferrals, installment plans, or bridge options.
5) How can I improve a deficit result?
Reduce variable categories first, then revisit fixed items for alternatives. Explore extra shifts, tutoring, campus roles, or additional aid, and re-run the plan to confirm break-even.
6) Can I use a different currency symbol?
Yes. Pick a currency or choose the custom option and type your symbol. Exports use the same symbol so your CSV and PDF match your plan.