Income & Cost Data from >1,000 careers and >3,000 schools
Step 1Choose a Career
Choose the career you want to explore. The calculator will use its starting salary as the foundation for the steps that follow.
Filter options (RIASEC, 4+ years, etc.)
Personality filter
School length
Type a few letters above then click the Career box below to see matching careers.
Click the Career box again to collapse the list.
Leave search box empty to scroll through all 997 careers.
Starting salary is 25th percentile of chosen career.
⭐ Impact of AI in next decade
Step 2Find a School & Enter College Costs
Open College Navigator below to find schools offering the training needed for this career, then enter the annual costs in the light-blue boxes below. As a shortcut, you may combine all costs into one box, such as Tuition & Fees. Then enter any expected awards, years at ICC, and total years of study (including ICC).
Click button for costs & majors at 3,000+ schools
Enter ANNUAL numbers in the fields below Adjust total yrs of study, yrs at ICC, & Peo Promise eligible at the bottom
Awards
Total cost of education
$0
ICC annual cost assumed $9,278; if Peoria Promise is checked, ICC cost = $5,270.
Step 3Enter Your Savings & Income
Your available money includes the savings you already have plus the income you earn during college, after taxes and tithe. Income begins with the summer before your first year and continues through graduation. Work is encouraged during school and breaks, but you may modify the light-blue boxes below according to your plans. A Gap Year means taking a year off from school to work and save while living at home. If selected, enter your Gap Year net income after taxes and tithe.
School year assumes ≈32 working weeks
Gap year = 52 wks
7.65% FICA automatically deducted
Step 4Calculate College Debt
Taking on student debt is one of the worst ways to begin your adult life, and I strongly advise against it except in rare circumstances where it can be paid back within five years after graduation. If the income and savings from above do not cover the expenses for your chosen school, however, you may need to take out student loans. Enter the interest rate and repayment term below, and you will see the devastating impact this debt can have on your future.
Student loan settings
Savings are applied first each year before borrowing;
loans are assumed disbursed at the start of each academic year.
Total Debt at start of repaying loans
$0
Cash Left at Graduation
$0
Per‑year flow: cost, work, savings, borrowed, and accrued to repayment.
Monthly amount left after paying Living Expenses and Loan Payment
Loan Payment
Step 5Lifestyle After Graduation
Below you will see the starting annual gross salary for your chosen career. You may need to adjust this number based on local conditions, the company, or your specialization. Taxes and tithe may also be modified as needed, producing your estimated monthly net income after taxes and tithe.
Next, compare that monthly net income with your estimated monthly living expenses. Open the detailed budget below to adjust those expenses so they realistically reflect the lifestyle you expect. Your goal is for monthly net income to exceed your monthly living expenses and any student loan payment.
Finally, the bottom will show the gross annual salary needed to support this lifestyle, along with the gross annual salary for the career you selected.
Taxes & tithe (as % of gross). Defaults roughly match 12% federal, 5% state, 7.65% FICA, 10% tithe.
Monthly net pay (after taxes & tithe)
$0
Monthly Living Costs (very modest estimate - modify by expanding "Edit detailed monthly budget" below)
$2,390
Click to edit detailed monthly budget (adjusts Monthly Living Costs above)
Budget total (auto-fills Monthly Living Costs above)