![Handlers, Ralphie](https://www.cpr.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/ap_724048901063.jpg)
As many parents and students know, what a college initially says it will cost and what the bill ends up being can be two very different things.
NPR has built a nifty searchable database showing how sticker and actual prices vary by family income. That has a big influence on how many scholarships, grants and other financial aid a student receives.
Below are the results for some of Colorado's top schools. Prices for public schools reflect in-state tuition.
CU Boulder
![Chart: CU Boulder costs](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/cu-boulder-1.jpg)
Colorado State University
![Chart: CSU costs](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/csu-1.jpg)
University of Denver
![Chart: DU costs](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/du-1.jpg)
Colorado College
![Chart: Colorado College costs](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/colorado-college-1.jpg)
School of Mines
![Chart: School of Mines cost](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/school-of-mines-1.jpg)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
![Chart: MSU cost](https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/06/msu-1.jpg)
Check out NPR's database for cost estimates for more schools.