The Top 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions about
the Net Price Calculator
1. What makes the PlattForm calculator better than the free calculator provided by the government?
• More accurate – the federal calculator calculates cost based on the school's largest program and does not take into account school specific grants or scholarships
• Completely customizable – ensures consistent branding
• Completely customizable – ensures consistent branding
2. What are some unique features and functions of the Net Price Calculator?
• Customizable style and integration into your site
• "Save for later" feature
• Inquiry generation after the NPC is filled out
• Real-time reporting and data gathering
• Readable on all browsers
• Hosting is included in cost
• "Save for later" feature
• Inquiry generation after the NPC is filled out
• Real-time reporting and data gathering
• Readable on all browsers
• Hosting is included in cost
3. Which features ensure accurate data entry and ease of use?
A custom-built interface ensures ease of use on all major web browsers.
4. Does your NPC provide students with insights into self-help as a resource to pay college costs?
This is an option that can be added with a custom NPC package.
5. Is your NPC available in Spanish?
Yes, but it will require a custom quote.
6. Can your NPC determine eligibility for military aid benefits?
7. Does your NPC comply with federal disability regulations?
Yes.
8. How precisely can your NPC replicate our institution's need analysis, aid awarding, and packaging policies?
Precisely. We will gather all data from you directly before programming it into the NPC to ensure accuracy.
9. How does your organization protect the confidentiality of student and parent information, including paper and electronic documents?
All information will be kept strictly confidential. A privacy policy will be accessible from the NPC outlining this information.
10. How does your NPC assist in student recruitment?
After filling out the NPC, the student is able to send his/her information on to the school. Reporting is also included in our pricing for the NPC, allowing you to manage and recruit the students that have filled out your NPC.
11. Who owns the students' information gathered by your NPC?
The institution. We do not sell any information gathered through the NPC.
12. Is all the data gathered by your NPC available to the college?
Yes.
13. What are your setup, licensing and maintenance fees?
PlattForm charges a one-time fee that includes setup and licensing, as long as we host. We do not charge a yearly maintenance fee like most companies, but any maintenance that needs to be done after the initial launch of the NPC will be billed at our hourly rate.
14. What level of admissions/enrollment management, financial aid and information technology resources are required to implement and test your NPC?
We request a central point of contact for the project who will provide financial aid information and be available to answer questions, provide approvals, etc. All implementation and testing will be completed by PlattForm.
15. Can loan information be incorporated into the NPC to determine total cost?
Government regulations do not allow this.
16. How much time does it take after a contract is signed to customize, test and post your NPC?
Approximately 4 weeks.
17. What technology is required to run your NPC for an institution and prospective students?
A web browser.
18. What type of data reporting do you offer and how often?
Reporting on NPC submits, as well as inquiries, on a real-time basis.
19. Is your NPC compatible with multiple Internet browsers, mobile telephones and handheld computers?
Yes, PlattForm's NPC is compatible with any modern Internet browser, mobile device and handheld. Specifically: IE7, IE8, Firefox 3, Firefox 4, Chrome, Safari, and the latest versions of iOS and Android.
20. Do you employ third parties or subcontractors who would be relied upon or incorporated into this relationship?
No.
21. We have multiple campuses. Do we need to have a unique calculator for each campus?
If the program costs do not differ by campus, you can use the same calculator. However, you are required to have a multiselect drop down that lists all your campuses so the student can select which campus they are interested in determining costs for. If the programs costs vary by campus, you will need a unique calculator for each campus.
22. What will the client need to provide?
They will need to provide detailed cost information about their school, as well as grant, scholarship and other financial aid information.
23. What new features and functions are planned for your NPC in the next 12 months?
• English-Spanish translations as a standard function
• Military questions as a standard function
• Military questions as a standard function